THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


f- 


' 


CAMPAIGNS  AND  BATTLES 


TENNESSEE   VOLUNTEERS, 

IN  THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES, 

WITH  INCIDENTAL   SKETCHES  OF 

The  Part  Performed  by  other  Tennessee  Troops  in  the  same  War, 
1861-1865. 


BY  THOMAS  A.  HEAD. 


NASHVILLE,  TENN.  : 

CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERIAN  PUBLISHING  HOUSE. 

1885. 


Entered,  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1884,  by 

THOMAS  A.  HEAD, 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


DEDICATION. 


4.1  4? 

The   I  ifeemory  oT  our       oen       om- 
y  / 

rades   of  trje    Qosl    Oause, 
v^)o   tr^eir    Kami  ies    ana    Descendants, 

o  trje  ^)urvivors  of  tpe  unfortunate  strug- 

« 

•P  L    fl 

ae   jrom    eacQ    C/lrmy, 

nd    to    allj.w9o    may    appreciate    Fidelity 
to    I    rincip  e    and    Devotion   to    Duty, 

Aolunne   is  I \espectfully  ^Inscribed    by 
Hutrjor. 


448308 


CHAPTER  I. 

Organization  of  the  Regiment  and  stay  at  Camp  Trous- 
dale  —  Transfer  to  Virginia  —  Huntersville  —  Cheat 
Mountain  Campaign — Sewell  Mountain — Winter  in 
North-western  Virginia. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Transfer  to  South  Carolina — Battle  of  Coosaw  River— 
Soldier  Life  on  the  Coast  of  South  Carolina — Cam- 
paigns in  Mississippi — Siege  of  Corinth — Retreat  to 
Tupelo  —  Reorganization  at  Corinth — Transfer  of 
the  Army  to  Chattanooga — Kentucky  Campaign — 
Battle  of  Perry ville — Return  of  the  Army  to  Ten- 


CH AFTER  III. 

Battle  of  Murfreesboro — Retreat  of  Confederates  to 
Tullahoma  and  Shelby  ville — Subsequent  Retreat  to 
Chattanooga. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Battle  of  Chickamauga — Investment  of  Chattanooga 
by  the  Confederates — Siege  of  Chattanooga — Battle 
of  Missionary  Ridge — Retreat  of  Confederates  to 
Dalton. 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  v. 

Georgia  Campaign — Battles  of  Resaca,  Adairsville,  and 
Peach  Tree  Creek — Battles  around  Atlanta — Fall  of 
Atlanta  and  Invasion  of  Tennessee  by  Confederates. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Battle  of  Franklin — Siege  of  Nashville — Confederate 
Repulse  at  Nashville  and  the  Retreat  into  North 
Carolina — Surrender  of  .Confederates  under  John- 
ston— Reunion  of  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  at 
McMinnville,  Tenn. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


Muster  Rolls  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment, 
giving  names  of  every  man  in  the  Regiment,  by  Com- 
panies— List  of  Killed  and  Wounded,  and  Died  of 
disease,  by  Companies. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Sketches  of  other  Tennessee  Regiments — Eighth  Ten- 
nessee, with  Rolls — Fifth  Tennessee — Carnes's  Bat- 
tery— Seventeenth  Tennessee — Fiftieth  Tennessee — 
Forty-ninth  Tennessee — Seventh  Tennessee — Elev- 
enth Tennessee — Seventh  Kentucky — Wright's  Bri- 
gade— Thirty-third  Tennessee. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Sketches  of  Officers:  Captain  D.  C.  Spurlock — Cap- 
tain J.  M.  Parks— Colonel- Joel  A.  Battle— Colonel 
John  H.  Savage — Captain  L.  N.  Savage — General 
F.  K.  Zollicoffer — Major-general  B.  F.  Cheatham — 


CONTENTS.  7 

General  William  A.  Quarles — Colonel  C.  A.  Sugg — 
Colonel  W.  F.  Young  —  Brigadier-general  William 
McComb  —  General  Robert  Hatton  —  Major-general 
W.  B.  Bate — General  J.  B.  Hood — Major-general  P. 
R.  Cleburne — Bishop  C.  T.  Quintard — Rev.  Joseph 
Cross,  D.D. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Official  Reports:  Colonel  D.  M.  Donnell — Colonel 
John  H.  Anderson — Colonel  John  G.  Hall — Captain 
B.  Randals — Brigadier-general  Wright. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Forrest's  Cavalry. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Miscellaneous  Sketches — Prison  Life,  etc. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. - 


FRONTISPIECE. 

PAGE. 

Brigadier-general  F.  K.  Zollicoffer, 21 

General  R.  E.  Lee, 35 

Colonel  John  H.  Savage, 49 

Captain  William  G.  Etter, 55 

Wright  S.  Hackett, 141 

Lieutenant-colonel  Thomas  B.  Murray, 163 

Captain  D.  C.  Spurlock, 172 

Major  Jo.  H.  Goodbar, .  177 

Captain  J.  M.  Parks,    , 184 

Colonel  William  L.  Moore, 204 

Colonel  Ben.  J.  Hill, 227 

Captain  W.  W.  Carnes, 237 

Battle  of  Perryville, 240 

Colonel  Joel  A.  Battle, 272 

Captain  L.  N.  Savage, 289 

Major-general  B.  F.  Cheatham, 313 

Major-general  P.  R.  Cleburne, 367 

N.  B.  Stubblefield, 371 

Colonel  D.  M.  Donnell, 389 

Major  H.  H.  Dillard, 393 

General  M.  J.  Wright, 417 


compliance  with  a  promise  made  by  the 
author  to  his  comrades  in  arms,  during  the 
late  war,  this  volume  has  been  written, 
•  and  is  now  offered  to  the  public.  Many 
of  the  events  narrated  are  matters  of  per- 
sonal knowledge  and  personal  observation. 
Every  available  record  has  been  brought 
to  bear,  by  which  to  test  the  accuracy  and 
authenticity  of  the  narrative.  It  has  been 
a  work  of  great  labor,  and  each  line  of  its 
pages  has  been  subjected  to  every  test  of  au- 
thenticity ,  regardless  of  labor  and  cost.  The 
work  can  be  relied  upon  as  correct  in  every 
sense.  There  is  no  romance  upon  any  of  its 
pages.  It  has  no  attempt  at  eulogy  upon  the 
one  hand,  or  disparagement  upon  the  other. 
It  is  merely  a  plain  and  simple  narrative  of 
facts  as  they  occurred. 


io  PREFACE. 

If  an  occasional  error  is  found,  the  indul- 
gence of  the  reader  is  invoked,  from  the  mere 
fact  that  we  are  human,  and  by  no  means 
proof  against  mistakes.  If  such  should  be 
found  it  will  be  the  result  of  oversight — by  no 
means  intentional — and  will  be  promptly  cor- 
rected in  subsequent  editions. 

In  preparing  these  pages,  the  author  has  been 
actuated  by  no  selfish  motives.  It  is  but  jus- 
tice to  the  memory  of  our  fallen  comrades  that 
a  just  and  correct  record  be  made  of  their  he- 
roic deeds — that  their  names  be  preserved  in 
the  record  of  their  gallant  works.  The)7  were 
brave  men  and  true  patriots.  They  were  hon- 
est in  their  convictions  of  right,  and  true  to 
their  plighted  faith.  Upon  their  record  is  no 
stain  of  treason.  Their  names  are  to  be  de- 
fended and  handed  down  unsullied  to  all  future 
generations.  The  same  is  equally  applicable 
to  their  surviving  comrades,  not  only  of  Ten- 
nessee, but  of  the  whole  South.  They  never 
made  the  conflict.  They  were  prompt  at  their 
country's  call  to  come  forward  and  offer  their 
all  in  her  defense.  Descendants  of  Revolu- 
tionary sires  who  had  been  baptized  at  the 
fountain  of  liberty — in  fire  and  in  blood — their 
first  lessons  had  been  a  true  and  faithful  alle- 


PREFACE.  1 1 

giance  to  their  State ;  that  valor  was  virtue, 
a*nd  a  knowledge  of  war  was  wisdom.  That 
they  were  brave  men  and  true  to  their  plighted 
faith  has  never  been  questioned,  even  by  their 
enemies. 

The  author  extends  his  grateful  acknowl- 
edgments to  the  good  people  of  McMinnville 
and  Warren  county,  who,  with  scarcely  an 
exception,  have  so  kindly  extended  to  him  every 
assistance  and  every  indulgence  within  their 
power,  in  the  work  of  preparing  these  pages. 
To  Lewis  Peach,  of  Fayetteville,  John  D.  Tol- 
ley,  of  Lynchburg,  J.  M.  Morgan,  of  Gaines- 
boro,  and  many  others,  the  author  is  indebted 
for  kind  assistance  so  freely  and  cheerfully 
rendered. 

This  work  has  been  completed  and  published 
under  many  trying  difficulties.  The  people 
have  been  liberal  in  subscribing  to  the  work, 
and  this  edition  goes  to  the  public  with  a  sub- 
scription list  of  seven  hundred  copies.  The 
price  of  this  volume  is  reasonable,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  no  one  will  depend  upon  borrowing 
from  his  neighbor,  but  all  may  go  at  once  and 
buy  a  copy. 

The  illustrations  are  from  photographs  taken 


12  PREFACE. 

during  the  war,  and  engraved  mostly  by  the 
Crosscup  &  West  Engraving  Company,  of 
Philadelphia. 

The  muster  rolls  and  casualty  reports  are 
principally  from  the  memory  of  survivors, 
while  some  are  from  official  records.  The 
Confederate  archives  being  meager,  it  was  im- 
possible to  get  a  full  record  from  that  source. 
For  favors  in  this  line,  the  author  is  indebted 
to  General  Wright,  of  the  War  Records  office 
at  Washington. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  work  may  receive  a 
careful  perusal  at  the  hands  of  the  public. 

T.  A.  H. 

Nashville,  1885. 


INTRODUCTION. 


indeed   appreciate   the   difficulties  that   beset 

the   pathway  of  him   who   attempts   a   record  of 

a 

*£>    human  events,  after  an  interval  of  a  quarter  of  a 

century.  Such  a  record  necessarily  falls  under 
the  observation  of  living-  witnesses,  and  is,  therefore, 
the  more  assailed  by  critics.  Few  indeed  there  are 
who  would  write  their  own  history  with  that  impar- 
tiality that  others  might  bestow  upon  it. 

Writing  extensively  the  history  of  the  exploits  of  liv- 
ing parties  who  are  living  witnesses  of  the  circum- 
stances of  which  we  write,  great  care  has  been  taken 
to  submit  each  item  to  the  severest  tests  of  accuracy 
and  authenticity  before  giving  it  a  permanent  place 
upon  the  pages  of  this  book.  In  some  instances  the 
account  may  not  be  as  full  as  it  might  have  been  if  such 
parties  had  been  preparing  the  record  themselves.  In 
other  instances  the  account  may  contain  more  than 
may  be  agreeable  to  others.  Knowing  these  facts  the 
writer  has  exercised  the  gi'eatest  care  and  caution, 
lest  injustice  might  be  done  in  some  way.  Actuated  by 
this  feeling,  no  account  has  been  given  of  the  misdeeds 
of  any  person.  That  some  parties  in  each  regiment 
acted  in  an  unsoldierly  manner  cannot  be  denied.  We 
will  attempt  no  detailed  account  of  the  overenthusiasm 
of  some  men  who  insisted  on  a  terrible  persecution  of 
their  neighbors  for  opinion's  sake  merely.  That  many 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

good  citizens  and  neighbors  suffered  from  this  source 
in  the  days  when  excitement  ran  highest,  and  "men 
had  lost  their  reason,"  cannot  be  denied.  Time  adjust- 
ed these  things.  Peace  came  at  last,  "  with  healing  on 
her  wings,"  and' man  became  reconciled  to  his  neigh- 
bor. Neither  will  any  record  be  made  of  the  same 
class  who  beset  the  poor  man  with  promises  to  see  that 
his  family  was  cared  for  if  he  would  go  to  the  war. 
The  poor  man,  in  many  instances,  left  his  wife  and  lit- 
tle ones  and  joined  the  Southern  army  under  these 
pledges.  We  will  not  record  how  faithfully  these 
pledges  were  kept  by  the  parties  who  made,  them. 
The  soldier's  family  received  assistance  from  these  par- 
ties by  paying  the  most  extortionate  prices.  Neither 
will  any  record  be  made  of  that  class  of  fireside  patri- 
ots who  insisted  that  one  Southern  man  could  whip 
ten  Yankees,  and  insisted  upon  imprisonment  or  death 
to  those  who  did  not  come  out  and  avow  their  allegiance 
to  the  Confederacy.  When  the  "Yankees"  did  come 
in  these  patriots,  in  many  instances,  went  forth  to  meet 
them,  and  became  at  once  as  intensely  loyal  to  the 
Yankees  as  they  had  previously  been  to  the  Rebels. 
Neither  will  any  record  be  made  of  the  Southern  sol- 
dier who  deserted  his  standard  and  resorted  to  the  oc- 
cupation of  pillaging  and  murdering  his  neighbors. 
As  these  were  few  in  number,  and  in  many  instances 
paid  for  their  treachery  with  their  lives,  we  pass  over 
their  record  in  silence. 

That  a  prosperous  people  were  estranged  and  divided 
into  factions  by  conflicting  interests  was  of  itself  a 
calamity.  That  these  factions  absorbed  the  Northern 
States  on  the  one  side  and  the  Southern  States  on  the 
other,  each  with  a  powerful  army,  was  deplorable. 
These  issues  were  purely  sectional,  and  turned  upon 


INTRODUCTION.  15 


exigencies  for  which  the  Constitution  had  made  no 
provision.  The  one  side  believed  that  the  general  gov- 
ernment conferred  rights  upon  a  State.  The  other  as- 
serted that  each  State  was  independent,  and  had  been 
so  acknowledged  by  treaty  with  Great  Britain  at  the 
close  of  the  Revolution.  This  party  embraced  many 
of  the  original  thirteen  Colonies.  They  believed  that 
the  States  went  into  the  Union  possessed  of  all  the 
rights  of  independent  States.  They  claimed  that  they 
entered  the  confederation  for  the  sake  of  mutual  pro- 
tection— that  it  was  not  the  province  of  the  general 
government  to  confer  rights  upon  a  State,  but  to  protect 
a  State  in  its  original  rights.  The  Southern  States 
claimed  that  the  institution  of  slavery  was  a  right  of 
which  they  were  possessed  when  they  entered  the  orig- 
inal confederation,  and  the  government  was  bound  to 
protect  them  in  this  right.  As  the  anti-slavery  party 
began  to  strengthen  in  the  North,  the  Southern  States 
began  to  be  fearful  of  their  interests  in  this  institution. 
They  began  to  urge  a  system  of  legislation  in  the  na- 
tional Congress  with  the  view  of  throwing  additional 
protection  around  it.  As  these  measures  were  opposed 
by  Northern  members,  the  subject  of  slavery  began  to 
be  agitated.  Upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the 
presidency,  the  Southern  States  became  dissatisfied,  on 
the  ground  that  he  was  pledged  to  a  policy  detrimental 
to  their  interests,  and,  claiming  their  rights  to  withdraw 
from  the  Union,  passed  ordinances  of  secession,  and 
established  a  Southern  Confederacy.  The  general 
government  denied  them  their  claimed  rights.  A 
four-years  war  was  the  result.  Tennessee  cast  her 
destinies  with  the  South.  The  best  men  of  each  sec- 
tion came  forward  and  enlisted  in  the  armies  of  their 
choice.  In  chronicling  the  deeds  of  the  Confederate 


1 6  INTRODUCTION. 

soldiers  of  Tennessee,  we  mean  no  invidious  distinc- 
tions. Each  Southern  State  marshaled  an  army  of 
heroes,  as  did  the  States  of  the  North,  and  while  we 
honor  the  names  of  the  Confederate  survivors,  and 
reverence  the  sacred  memory  of  the  dead,  we  accord 
due  honor  and  praise  to  the  gallantry  and  patriotism 
of  the  Northern  soldiers.  All  were  brothers,  hound 
together  by  the  strongest  congenial  ties.  Conflicting 
interests  had  estranged  them  as  time  moved  onward. 
Divided,  as  they  finally  were,  on  sectional  issues  for 
which  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  had  failed  to 
make  provision,  they  each  maintained  their  position 
with  that  steadiness  and  determination  that  has  not  a 
parallel  in  ancient  or  modern  wars.  They  fought  each 
other  with  a  desperation.showing  that  they  were  each 
made  of  good  material,  and  that, 

When  Greek  meets  Greek 
Then  comes  the  tug  of  war. 

The  war  ceased;  they  were  brothers  again.  Identi- 
cal in  interest  the  victor  and  vanquished  ceased  to  be 
enemies.  They  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares, 
their  spears  into  pruning  hooks,  and  learned  war  no 
more.  In  friendship  they  conversed  over  their  cam- 
paigns and  battles,  and  instead  of  enemies  they  treated 
each  other  as  brothers.  Actuated  by  this  impulse,  a 
respect  and  honor  for  the  Federal  soldier,  this  work  is 
written,  in  which  the  deeds  of  the  Tennessee  troops  in 
the  Confederate  army  are  truly  and  faithfully  portrayed. 
First  among  which  we  mention  the  history  of  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  to  which 
the  writer  belonged. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THIS  regiment  was  composed  of  volunteer  com- 
panies from  the  counties  of  Warren,  White,  De- 
Kalb,  Coffee,  Van  Buren,  Putnam,  and  Grundy. 
Warren  county  furnished  four  companies;  White  coun- 
ty, one  company;  White  and  DeKalb,  one  company; 
DeKalb,  one  company;  Coffee  and  Grundy,  one  com- 
pany; Van  Buren,  one  company;   Putnam,  one  com- 
pany. 

These  companies  were  officered  as  follows: 

1.   CAPTAIN  MURRAY'S  COMPANY. 
(Warren  County.) 

Thomas  B.  Murray ...„...,, Captain, 

A.  P.  Smartt First  Lieutenant. 

James  Hill Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  York Third  Lieutenant. 

2.   CAPTAIN  DONNELLS  COMPANY. 
(Warren  County.) 

D.  M.  Donnell Captain. 

Wright  S.  Hackett First  Lieutenant. 

E.  C.  Read Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  Castleman.. Third  Lieutenant. 

2 


1 8  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


3.   CAPTAIN  COFFEE'S  COMPANY. 
(Warren  County.) 

P.  H.  Coffee Captain. 

George  Marchbanks First  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Moonej Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  G.  Rains Third  Lieutenant. 

4.   CAPTAIN  MEADOWS1  COM  PANT. 
(Warren  County.) 

L.  H.  Meadows Captain. 

H.  L.  Simms First  Lieutenant. 

W.  G.  Etter  Second  Lieutenant. 

B.  J.  Solomon fThird  Lieutenant. 

5.  CAPTAIN  BROWN'S  COMPANT. 

(White  County.) 

D.  T.  Brown Captain. 

S.  B.  McMillan First  Lieutenant. 

James  Revis Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  D.  Turlington Third  Lieutenant. 

6.  CAPTAIN  SHIELDS'  COMPANT. 

(White  and  DeKalb  Counties.) 

P.  C.  Shields Captain. 

A.  T.  Fisher First  Lieutenant. 

W.  L.  Woods Second  Lieutenant. 

James  R.  Fisher.. Third  Lieutenant. 

7.  CAPTAIN  BREWER'S  COMPANT. 
(Coffee  and  Grundy  Counties.) 

Calvin  C.  Brewer Captain. 

S.  G.  Crocker First  Lieutenant. 

G.  W.  Turner Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  E.  Bashaw Third  Lieutenant. 

8.  CAPTAIN  TORK'S  COMPANT. 
(Van  Buren  County.) 

Harmon  York Captain. 

Green  B.  Johnson. „ , First  Lieutenant. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  19 

M.  B.  Wood Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  T.  Seitz Third  Lieutenant. 

9.  CAPTAIN  SAVAGE'S  COMPANT. 
(DeKalb  County.) 

L.  N.  Savage Captain. 

Iraby  C.  Stone First  Lieutenant. 

John  K.  Bain Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  B.  Anderson Third  Lieutenant. 

10.  CAPTAIN  DILLARD'S  COMPANT. 
(Putnam  County.) 

H.  H.  Dillard Captain. 

W.  K.  Sadler First  Lieutenant. 

Holland  Denton , Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  A.  Young. Third  Lieutenant. 

The  Grundy  county  company  was  not  complete  in 
numbers,  and  the  greater  portion  of  its  men  attached 
themselves  to  Captain  Brewer's  company,  while  the 
principal  .portion  of  the  others  entered  Captain  Mead- 
ows' company,  and  a  few  joined  the  other  companies  of 
the  regiment.  The  commander  of  the  company,  Captain 
Hannah,  afterward  entered  Colonel  Hill's  regiment,  at 
the  head  of  a  company,  where  he  distinguished  himself 
as  a  good  soldier  and  a  gentleman.  Captain  Hannah 
fell  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 

The  companies  were  rendezvoused  at  Estill  Springs, 
near  Tullahoma,  where  most  of  the  companies  were 
mustered  into  the  State  service  for  twelve  months. 
Captain  Donnell's  company  was  mustered  into  the  serv- 
ice at  the  State  Capital,  and  some  of  the  other  compa- 
nies at  the  camp  of  organization  near  Nashville. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1861,  the  companies  left  their 
camp  of  rendezvous  at  Estill  Springs,  and  proceeded 
to  Camp  Trousdale,  on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railroad,  in  Sumner  county,  near  the  Kentucky  line 


20 


At  this  place  they  were  organized  into  a  regiment 
about  the  first  of  June,  1861.  John  H.  Savage  was 
unanimously  chosen  colonel  of  the  regiment,  which 
was  designated  and  known  as  the  Sixteenth  Regi- 
ment of  Tennessee  Volunteers.  The  officers  received 
their  commissions  from  the  Governor  of  the  State,  and 
the  field  and  staff-officers  of  the  regiment  at  the  time 
of  its  organization  were  as  follows: 

JOHN  H.  SAVAGE,  Colonel; 

THOMAS  B.  MURRAY,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

JOSEPH  H.  GOODBAR,  Major; 

GEORGE  MARCHBANKS,  Adjutant; 

JOHN  T.  READ,  Surgeon; 

CHARLES  K.  MAUZY,  Assistant  Surgeon; 

GILBERT  R.  CAMPBELL,  Quarter-master; 

JAMES  GLASSCOCK,  Commissary; 

J.  W.  POINDEXTER,  Chaplain. 

Shortly  after  organizing,  Drs.  James  B.  Ritchey  and 
Thomas  Black  were  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Medical 
Department.  A.  J.  Brown  was  assigned  to  duty  in 
the  Subsistence  Department  of  the  army,  with  the 
rank  of  major,  and  was  afterward  permanently  as- 
signed to  duty  in  the  Pay  Department  of  the  brigade. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp  of  instruction  at 
Camp  Trousdale,  where  were  encamped  the  Seventh 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  Robert 
Hatton;  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers, 
Colonel  Alf.  S.  Fulton;  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Ten- 
nessee Volunteers,  Colonel  John  H.  Savage;  the  Seven- 
teenth Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  Taz. 
W.  Newman;  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  Tennessee 
Volunteers,  Colonel  J.  B.  Palmer;  and  the  Twentieth 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  Joel  A.  Battle. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


21 


The  regiments  above-named  were  commanded  by 
F.  K.  Zollicoffer,  who  had  been  commissioned  as  brig- 
adier-general in  the  State  service,  and  placed  in  com- 
mand of  all  the  troops  collected  at  Camp  Trousdale. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  was  composed  principally 
of  young  and  middle-aged  men,  of  robust  health  and 
strong  constitutions.  The  regiment  remained  at  Camp 


Trousdale  near  eight  weeks,  and  performed  the  usual 
routine  of  drill  and  guard  duty.  So  sudden  a  change 
in  the  manner  and  habits  of  life  told  on  the  health  of 
the  men  to  some  extent,  and  quite  a  number  were 
taken  sick,  but  were  soon  convalescent.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  casualties  resulting  from  measles,  there 
were  few  deaths  and  very  little  fatal  sickness  in  the 
regiment  during  its  stay  at  Camp  Trousdalei 


22  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

The  regiment  was  ordered  to  East  Tennessee  about 
the  2ist  of  July,  1861.  The  men  were  jubilant  at  the 
prospect  of  entering  into  active  service.  The  great 
battle  of  Manassas  was  fought  about  this  time,  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  boys  was  boundless.  They  all 
wanted  to  move  to  the  front.  Colonel  Savage  was 
warmly  devoted  to  his  regiment  and  proud  of  it.  The 
feeling  was  reciprocated  in  full  by  his  men.  They  all 
felt  the  most  abiding  confidence  in  his  ability,  his  in- 
tegrity, and  his  patriotism,  and  were  ready  and  eager 
to  follow  him,  where  danger  was  thickest,  to  the  per- 
formance of  any  duty  that  their  country  asked  at  their 
hands. 

Colonel  Savage,  the  commander  of  the  Sixteenth 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  had  seen  much  hard 
service,  and  had  a  large  experience  in  the  former  wars, 
in  which  he  figured  prominently  in  the  defense  of  his 
country.  He  had  been  commissioned  three  times,  in 
as  many  different  wars,  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States  government.  His  first  service  was  in  General 
Gaines's  call  to  maintain  the  neutrality  of  the  Texas 
frontier  when  Santa  Anna  and  Houston  were  engaged 
in  war;  his  second  service  was  in  the  Seminole  war, 
and  his  third  service  was  in  the  war  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico.  In  this  war  he  was  major 
of  the  Fourteenth  Infantry,  and  rendered  valuable 
service  to  his  country  in  the  memorable  campaigns 
and  battles  in  which  the  United  States  army  was  en- 
gaged. He  was  severely  wounded  while  leading  his 
column  in  an  assault  upon  the  Mexican  position  at 
Molino  del  Rey,  after  which  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Regular 
Infantry,  composed  of  troops  from  Pennsylvania,  New 
York,  and  Virginia.  In  this  war  he  was  in  the  same 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  23 

brigade  and  held  equal  rank  with  Joseph  E.  Johnston, 
who,  at  the  time,  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  Volti- 
geurs. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war  Colonel  Savage  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 
He  was  subsequently  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Fourth  Congressional  District,  and  represented  his  peo- 
ple in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  for  a  period 
of  eight  years.  When  the  war  broke  out  between 
the  States  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  South.  At 
the  head  of  his  regiment,  made  up  from  his  congres- 
sional district,  and  of  the  families  of  his  constituency, 
he  led  his  men  to  deeds  of  noble  daring  and  thrilling 
achievement. 

On  the  morning  of  July  2ist  the  tents  were  struck, 
and  the  baggage  placed  upon  the  train  in  the  midst  of 
a  drenching  rain.  The  men  were  cheerful  and  happy 
at  the  thought  of  going  to  Virginia.  The  news  of  the 
great  battle  of  Manassas  was  received  about  this  time, 
and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  men  was  at  its  highest  point. 
The  regiment  took  the  train  about  eight  o'clock,  and 
proceeded  through  Nashville  to  Chattanooga,  and  at 
the  latter  point  remained  a  few  hours  awaiting  transpor- 
tation. From  Chattanooga  they  proceeded  to  Haynes- 
ville,  East  Tennessee,  where  they  went  into  camp  to 
await  further  orders. 

Brigadier-general  S.  R.  Anderson  had  been  placed 
in  command  of  all  the  troops  forwarded  to  East  Ten- 
nessee. Brigadier-general  D.  S.  Donelson  had  been 
assigned  to  duty  in  this  department,  and  placed  in 
command  of  three  Tennessee  regiments.  These  regi- 
ments were  the  first  forwarded  to  Virginia,  and  were 
commanded  by  Colonels  Hatton,  Maney,  and  Forbes. 
Savage's  and  Fulton's  regiments  were  at  first  placed  in 


24  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

Anderson's  brigade  and  ordered  to  Western  Virginia. 
These  orders  were  subsequently  changed,  as  will  be 
afterward  shown. 

Receiving  orders  at  Haynesville  from  the  War  De- 
partment to  proceed  immediately  to  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion, on  the  27th  of  July  the  regiment  took  the  train 
and  proceeded  to  Bristol,  where  it  arrived  on  the  28th, 
and  departed  on  the  following  night  for  Lynchburg. 
Arriving  at  Lynchburg  on  the  2pth,  the  regiment  was 
encamped  near  the  city,  and  remained  in  its  encamp- 
ment till  August  ist,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Staunton, 
by  the  way  of  Charlottesville,  where  they  arrived 
about  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  3d. 

The  following  correspondence  shows  the  disposal 
that  was  made  of  the  Tennessee  troops  at  this  time: 

RICHMOND,  July  27,  1861. 

General  S.  R.  Anderson,  Lynchburg,  Va.: — The  three  Ten- 
nessee regiments  first  advanced  will  be  under  the  command  of 
General  Donelson.  The  other  two  regiments  under  your  com- 
mand you  will  order  to  Bristol,  where  fuller  orders  will  reach 
you.  L.  P.  WALKER,  Secretary  of  War. 

LYNCHBURG,  July  28,  1861. 

Hon.  L.  P.  Walker: — There  have  been  ordered  to  Lynchburg 
five  regiments,  three  of  whom  have  been  forwarded  to,  and  are 
now  at,  Staunton,  commanded  by  Colonel  Hatton,  Colonel  Ma- 
ney,  and  Colonel  Forbes.  These  are  the  three  first  advanced. 
The  other  two  are  commanded  by  Colonel  Fulton  and  Colonel 
Savage.  Part  of  Fulton's  command  has  already  reached  Lynch- 
burg, and  the  remainder,  with  Savage's  regiment,  will  probably 
reach  here  to-daj-  or  to-night.  At  Haynesville  and  Bristol,  East 
Tennessee,  there  are  three  regiments,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Battle,  Colonel  Newman,  and  Colonel  Rains.  Ordered  there 
from  Middle  Tennessee.  Your  order  yesterday  evening  was  to 
forward  the  two  additional  regiments  expected  here  to  Staunton. 
Under  your  telegram  to-day  I  have  to  ask  whether  I  shall  order 
these  regiments  (Fulton's  and  Savage's)  to  remain  here,  go  to 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  25 

Staunton,  or  to  return  to  Bristol  ?     I  proceed  to  Bristol  this  even- 
ing.    Answer  to  my  acting  aid,  Colonel  Smith,  at  this  point. 

S.  R.  ANDERSON,  Brigadier-general. 

RICHMOND,  July  25,  1861,  5:30  P.M. 

General  S.  R.  Anderson,  Lynchburg,  Va.: — The  President  di- 
rects that  you  proceed  immediately  to  Scott  and  Lee  counties, 
Va.,  and  seize  and  punish  a  party  of  invaders  said  to  be  commit- 
ting depradations  at  Estillville  and  in  that  region.  Make  use  for 
this  purpose  of  the  two  Tennessee  regiments  at  Bristol,  and  any 
other  troops,  volunteer  or  militia,  whose  services  you  may  find 
available.  Supply  yourself  with  ammunition,  powder,  and  lead. 
Celerity  and  caution  are  necessary. 

S.  COOPER,  Adjutant  and  Inspector-general. 

LYNCHBURG,  July  26,  1861. 

Hon.  L.  P.  Walker: — Your  dispatch  received.  I  have  or- 
dered two  regiments  from  Bristol.  There  is  still  one  more  at 
Bristol.  Shall  I  order  that  ?  Shall  I  remain  here  ?  Give  me 
instructions  as  to  my  course. 

S.  R.  ANDERSON,  Brigadier-general. 
RICHMOND,  July  27,  1861. 

General  S.  R.  Anderson,  Lynchburg,  Va.: — Order  the  regi- 
ment to  Lynchburg,  and  thence  to  Staunton.  You  will  receive 
orders  controlling  your  personal  movements. 

L.  P.  WALKER. 

The  people  of  Charlottesville  extended  every  court- 
esy and  hospitality  to  the  soldiers,  and  the  boys  enjoyed 
their  stay  of  a  few  hours  in  the  city  by  visiting  the 
University  of  Virginia,  and  seeing  the  sights  of  the 
place  in  general,  till  the  evening  of  the  3d,  when  they 
took  the  cars  for  Staunton,  then  to  Millboro,  and  ar- 
rived at  that  place  about  three  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  4th.  The  regiment  remained  at  Millboro  till 
the  evening  of  the  next  day,  arranging  baggage  and 
other  equipments  preparatory  to  an  overland  march  to 
Huntersville,  about  thirty-five  miles  distant.  On  the 
evening  of  August  5th  they  took  up  the  line  of  march? 


26  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

and  encamped  at  a  pleasant  place  a  few  miles  from 
Millboro  the  first  night.  On  the  following  day  the 
march  was  resumed,  and  at  night  the  regiment  en- 
camped at  the  celebrated  Warm  Springs  of  Virginia. 
The  men  partook  bountifully  of  the  comforts  of  the 
Bath  House,  and,  after  a  good  night's  rest,  took  up 
their  line  of  march  on  the  morning  of  the  yth,  passed 
Bath  Alum  Springs,  arrived  at  Gatewood  in  the  even- 
ing, and  encamped  for  the  night;  proceeding  onward 
at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  arriving 
at  Huntersville  in  the  evening. 

.  The  weather  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  this  had 
been  the  regiment's  first  experience  in  marching.  The 
men  were  possessed  of  a  large  amount  of  individual 
baggage,  which  they  wished  to  carry,  as  the  means  of 
transportation  were  limited.  In  addition  to  their  arms 
and.  accouterments,  many  were  loaded  down  with  a 
large  quantity  of  other  baggage  which  they  did  not 
wish  to  lose,  and  in  carrying  so  great  burdens  the  men 
were  greatly  fatigued  by  this  their  first  marching,  and 
many  fell  behind  before  reaching  Huntersville;  com- 
ing on  as  fast  as  they  could  conveniently  do  so,  after 
resting  and  recuperating  a  little  on  the  way. 

Some  of  our  men  fell  sick  on  the  way  from  Camp 
Trousdale  to  Huntersville,  but  the  greater  portion  of 
them  speedily  recovered  and  rejoined  the  regiment  at 
Huntersville.  On  this  trip  our  highly  esteemed  major, 
Jo.  H.  Goodbar,  was  taken  sick  at  Morristown,  and 
died  on  the  roth  of  December,  1861.  Major  Goodbar 
was  an  excellent  officer  and  a  most  estimable  gentle- 
man. His  stay  with  the  regiment  had  been  a  brief 
one,  yet  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command  had 
learned  to  love  him,  and  they  deplored  his  loss  as  that 
of  a  brother. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  27 

The  sick  of  the  regiment  were  left  at  Millboro  under 
the  care  of  Dr.  Thomas  Black,  then  a  young  physician. 
As  the  number  of  sick  increased  on  the  march  to 
Huntersville  they  were  all  collected  at  Bath  Alum 
Springs,  where  a  regular  hospital  was  established  under 
Dr.  Black's  charge.  His  labors  were  incessant  until 
he  received  assistance  from  the  Medical  Department. 
The  sick  of  the  brigade  were  being  collected  here,  and 
the  hospital  had  over  a  hundred  patients.* 

The  regiment  arriving  at  Huntersville  on  the  even- 
ing of  August  8th  was  encamped  in  a  field  in  a  nar- 
row valley  on  the  bank  of  a  little  stream.  The  rains 
had  set  in  and  seemed  to  be  almost  incessant.  The 
ground  on  which  the  regiment  encamped  was  marshy 
and  damp,  and  the  men,  weary  of  the  long  and  ardu- 
ous march  just  completed,  began  to  fall  sick,  and  many 
of  them  died.  The  weather  became  damp  and  cold, 
and  it  rained  continually. 

The  three  Tennessee  regiments  at  first  assigned  to 

*  Dr.  Black's  labors  here  at  first  were  so  constant  that  he 
scarcely  had  time  to  sleep.  One  night  he  lay  down,  and  by 
the  time  he  was  fully  asleep  he  was  called  upon  to  go  to  a  man 
who  had  eaten  too  many  huckleberries  and  was  about  to  die  of 
colic.  The  man  was  a  detail,  and  had  been  on  a  ramble  through 
the  day.  The  doctor  gave  his  directions  before  he  was  awake, 
and  ordered  the  man  to  have  a  dose  of  tobacco  and  sugar.  The 
order  was  obeyed  promptly  and  without  question.  The  tobacco 
•was  cut  fine  from  a  navy  plug  to  the  amount  of  a  table-spoonful, 
and  mixed  with  a  similar  amount  of  sugar.  This  was  dissolved 
in  about  a  gill  of  water  and  taken  to  the  man,  who  said  it  was  a 
hard  dose,  but  he  would  take  it  if  the  doctor  said  so,  and  drank  it 
down.  For  the  next  fifteen  minutes  the  heaving  and  vomiting  of 
that  man  was  a  fixed  fact.  He  was  then  easy.  In  the  morning 
he  was  well,  and  congratulated  the  doctor  on  his  peculiar  remedy. 
T  he  doctor,  till  then,  knew  nothing  of  the  matter. 


28  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

General  Donelson's  brigade  were  now  placed  under 
General  Anderson.  The  two  regiments  at  first  assigned 
to  Anderson  were  now  placed  under  Donelson,  and 
constituted  his  brigade. 

The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  together  with 
the  Eighth  Tennessee,  was  organized  into  a  brigade,  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-general  D.  S. 
Donelson.  The  troops  at  Huntersville  at  this  time 
were  the  Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiments; 
a  Georgia  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bromly;  the  Forty- 
eighth  Virginia  Regiment;  a  cavalry  battalion,  and  a 
battery  of  artillery.  The  brigade  was  placed  in  Lor- 
ing's  division;  which  at  this  time  was  encamped  at 
Valley  Mountain,  organizing  an  expedition  against  the 
Federal  stronghold  at  Cheat  Mountain.  Generals  Floyd 
and  Wise  were  in  front  of  Rosecrans,  on  the  Charles- 
ton road,  near  the  Gauley  river,  in  the  Kanawha  valley. 
The  troops  at  Huntersville  were  held  in  readiness,  not 
to  repel  any  contemplated  attack  on  that  post,  which 
was  at  least  fifty  miles  inside  of  General  Lee's  lines,  but 
to  be  as  a  kind  of  reserve  force  to  be  sent  out  td  the  as- 
sistance of  General  Lee,  at  Cheat  Mountain,  or  to  Gener- 
als Wise  and  Floyd,  on  the  Gauley  river,  as  the  occasion 
might  require.  Meanwhile,  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee 
Regiment,  with  its  brigade,  remained  at  Huntersville 
till  early  in  September.  The  weather  being  very  damp 
and  cold,  and  the  location  of  the  encampment  being 
exceedingly  unfavorable  to  good  health,  many  of  the 
men  died  of  malarial  and  typhoid  fevers.  The  large 
and  fearful  daily  increase  of  the  sick-list  in  the  regi- 
ment caused  the  commander  to  seek  some  method  of 
ameliorating  the  condition  of  his  men.  Accordingly, 
Colonel  Savage  applied  to  General  Donelson  for 
authority  to  remove  his  encampment  to  a  better  posi- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  29 

tion,  on  high  and  dry  ground,  and,  as  an  inducement, 
presented  the  report  of  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment 
showing  the  rapid  increase  of  sickness  in  his  regiment 
in  its  present  encampment. 

On  the  23d  day  of  August  the  tents  were  struck  and, 
the  regiment  was  removed  to  a  hill-side  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  where  the  men  were  more 
comfortable.  The  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment,  seeing 
the  wisdom  of  Colonel  Savage's  course,  changed  its  en- 
campment also;  and  in  a  few  days  General  Donelson 
moved  his  head-quarters  to  the  hill-side,  near  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment.  The  wisdom  of 
the  move  thus  inaugurated  was  self-evident.  The  sick- 
ness of  the  regiment  rapidly  abated,  and  the  men  re- 
mained at  their  hill-side  encampment  until  the  6th  day 
of  September,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Valley 
Mountain,  together  with  all  the  troops  of  General  Don- 
elson's  brigade. 

The  sick  and  convalescent  of  the  regiment  were  left 
at  Huntersville  with  Dr.  C.  K.  Mauzy,  and  on  the 
morning  of  September  6th,  the  regiment  was  in  line  and 
on  the  inarch  to  report  to  General  Loring,  at  Valley 
Mountain.  The  march  on  the  6th  was  pleasant,  though 
it  lay  along  a  narrow  and  fertile  valley,  bounded  on  the 
right  and  left  by  lofty  and  almost  perpendicular  moun- 
tains, the  valley  merely  in  the  shape  of  a  trough,  and  the 
mud  was  deep  and  disagreeable.  On  the  evening  of  the 
6th  the  regiment  encamped  in  a  tributary  valley,  at  a  place 
known  as  Camp  Edra.  Here  the  men  received  fresh 
beef  of  the  very  best  quality,  but  had  no  salt.  Rich, 
fat,  and  juicy,  the  men  ate  it  with  their  bread,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  7th  the  column  moved  onward 
and  arrived  in  the  evening  at  Big  Spring.  At  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  September  8th,  the  regi- 


30  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT     . 

ment  took  up  its  line  of  march  through  a  fertile  region 
of  country.  Having  left  the  tents  and  heavy  baggage 
at  this  place,  the  men  proceeded  over  very  muddy 
roads  through  the  day  and  arrived  at  Valley  Moun- 
tain in  the  evening,  at  the  head-quarters  of  General 
Loring. 

The  commissary  wagons  arrived  at  a  late  hour  of  the 
night,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to  prepare  five  days' 
rations  and  be  ready  to  march  at  daylight  of  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  On  account  of  the  scarcity  of  com- 
missary stores  in  that  quarter,  resulting  from  limited 
transportation  and  bad  roads,  the  men  were  not  en- 
cumbered with  heavy  rations,  their  five  days'  supply 
being  scarcely  sufficient  to  do  them  two  full  days,  yet 
it  was  the  best  that  could  be  done  under  the  circum- 
stances; and  the  soldiers,  with  their  rations  in  their 
haversacks,  with  forty  rounds  of  ammunition  in  their 
cartridge-boxes,  and  their  surplus  baggage  left  with 
the  trains,  appeared  in  line  on  the  morning  of  the  loth 
on  the  summit  of  Valley  Mountain. 

At  this  place  Donelson's  brigade  was  joined  by  the 
Second  Tennessee  Brigade,  under  Brigadier-general 
S.  R.  Anderson.  This  brigade  was  composed  of  the 
First  Tennessee  Regiment,  under  Colonel  George 
Maney;  the  Fourth  Tennesseee  Regiment,  Colonel 
Forbes;  and  the  Seventh  Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel 
Robert  Hatton.  The  five  Tennessee  regiments  were 
thus  brought  together  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  in 
the  face  of  a  defiant  and  exultant  foe.  The  men  were 
cheerful  and  buoyant,  and  were  eager  for  the  conflict, 
when  they  could  test  their  prowess  on  the  enemy's 
stronghold  at  Cheat  Mountain. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful,  and.  the  view 
from  the  summit  of  the  mountain  presented  the  grandest 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  31 

scenery  that  the  eye  could  possibly  behold.  The  peaks  of 
the  neighboring  mountains  were  radiant  with  the  golden 
sunshine  of  the  morning,  and  the  huge,  craggy  rocks 
of  their  brows  shone  forth  and  sparkled  in  the  distance 
as  magnificent  temples  on  the  borders  of  a  populous 
city.  The  valley  was  wrapped  in  a  dense  fog,  which 
extended  to  a  certain  uniform  height,  presenting  to  the 
view  of  the  beholder  the  appearance  of  a  vast  lake 
or  sea,  out  of  which  the  different  hill-tops  emerged 
at  ir-regular  intervals  as  islands.  The  scenery  was 
delightful  to  behold,  and  across  this  apparent  sea  of 
hills  and  valleys  was  posted  the  enemy  whom  it  was 
our  business  to  dislodge;  and  the  preliminaries  to  the 
work,  inaugurated  on  this  delightful  and  memorable 
morning,  involved  difficulties  and  dangers  almost  with- 
out a  parallel  in  history. 

General  Loring  rode  along  the  lines  upon  a  fine 
white  horse,  and,  instead  of  his  uniform,  he  was 
clothed  in  citizen's  garb.  He  wore  a  heavy  velvet 
frock  coat,  and  as  the  men  beheld  an  empty  sleeve 
they  learned  that  he  had  lost  an  arm  in  one  of  the  bat- 
tles of  the  Mexican  war.  With  great  modesty  and 
little  display  he  rode  along  the  lines  and  made  the 
necessary  disposal  of  his  troops. 

This  was  the  first  time  the  commander  had  been  seen 
by  many  of  his  men,  and  his  appearance  inspired  the 
fullest  confidence  in  his  ability.  The  men  stood  in 
readiness  to  perform  the  work  before  them,  and  were 
awaiting  the  orders  of  their  commander.  The  work 
in  hand  was  an  arduous  one,  and  required  men  of  the 
greatest  amount  of  endurance,  daring,  and  nerve  to 
execute  it. 

The  Federals  were  posted  several  thousand  strong, 
and  strongly  fortified,  at  a  position  on  the  Huttonville 


32  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

pike,  near  the  terminus  of  a  mountain  ridge  that  sepa- 
rates Tygert's  Valley  from  a  small  cove,  down  which 
flows  a  small  creek,  known  as  Beckey's  Run.  A  small 
stream  comes  down  Tygert's  Valley*  known  as  Con- 
ley's  Run,  the  word  "run"  being  the  Virginia  term 
for  "  creek." 

It  was  the  object  of  General  Lee  to  place  a  part  ot 
Loring's  division,  with  such  other  troops  at  his  com- 
mand as  were  available,  in  front  of  the  Federal  posi- 
tion on  the  Huttonville  pike,  and  to  gain  the  rear  of 
the  position  with  Donelson's  brigade,  by  way  of  Ty- 
gert's Valley,  along  Conley's  Run  to  a  certain  point  a 
few  miles  from  the  Federal  stronghold,  thence  across 
the  ridge  into  the  cove,  and  thence  down  the  cove, 
along  Beckey's  Run,  to  a  point  opposite  the  Federals 
across  the  ridge;  then  to  ascend  the  ridge  and  come 
down  upon  the  Federal  position  from  the  rear.  Gen- 
eral Jackson  was  to  take  position  in  front  of  the  Fed- 
eral position  on  Cheat  Mountain,  with  Anderson's 
brigade  to  co-operate  with  him  on  the  flank  and  rear. 
The  plan  of  the  campaign  thus  marked  out,  each  com- 
manding officer  proceeded  to  its  execution. 

Before  leaving  Valley  Mountain  the  following  or- 
ders from  the  commander-in-chief  were  read  to  the 
troops  in  line: 

r^          ,   ~    ,     x  HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  THE  FORCES.) 

General   Order)  VALLEY  MOUNTAIN,  W.  VA.! 

September  9,  1861.) 

The  forward  movement,  announced  to  the  Army  of  the  North- 
west in  Special  Order  No.  28,  from  its  head-quarters  of  this  date, 
gives  the  general  commanding  the  opportunity  of  exhorting  the 
troops  to  keep  steadily  in  view  the  great  principles  for  which  they 
contend,  and  to  manifest  to  the  world  their  determination  to 
maintain  them.  The  eyes  of  the  country  are  upon  you.  The 
safety  of  your  homes  and  the  lives  of  all  you  hold  dear  depend 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  33 

upon  your  exertions.     Let  each  man  resolve  to  be  victorious,  and 
that  the  right  of  self-government,  liberty,  and  peace  shall  in  him 
find  a  defender.     The  progress  of  this  army  must  be  forward. 
R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

Donelson's  brigade  was  now  separated  from  Ander- 
son's, and  proceeded  to  penetrate  the  Federal  rear, 
which  involved  a  winding  march  of  about  thirty  miles 
across  a  series  of  mountain  gulfs,  apparently  untrav- 
ersable.  The  mountains  were  steep,  the  valleys  nar- 
row, and  there  was  no  road — not  even  a  path. 

General  Donelson  was  ordered  to  keep  within  sup- 
porting distance  of  Loring's  column,  and  had  found 
a  guide  to  the  expedition  who  was  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  country.  The  name  of  the  guide 
was  Butcher,  and  as  he  wore  the  title  of  "Doctor,"  it 
is  presumed  that  he  was  a  physician.  He  appeared 
to  be  a  clever  gentleman,  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  full  of  nerve  and  energy,  and  with  a  vast  amount 
of  solid  and  reliable  pluck.  He  was  warmly  devoted 
to  the  cause,  and  rendered  valuable  services  to  the 
expedition. 

Proceeding  a  few  miles  from  Valley  Mountain,  the 
brigade  came  to  the  top  of  a  deep  mountain  gorge  at 
the  edge  of  an  old  field.  Just  beyond  the  field  the 
brink  was  approached,  and  looking  beyond,  lofty 
heights  could  be  seen  across  the  gorge,  with  here  and 
there  a  field  and  a  mountain  cottage.  A  few  tents 
could  be  seen  far  off  in  the  distance,  but  we  knew  not 
whether  they  were  the  encampments  of  friend  or  foe. 
Beyond  and  below  us  was  the  apparently  impassable 
abyss,  the  descent  of  which  must  be  accomplished, 
and  followed  by  the  ascent  of  the  heights  immediately 
following.  The  field-officers  led  their  horses  diago- 
nally with  the  mountain  side  to  a  certain  distance,  and. 


34  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

turning  to  the  right  or  left,  proceeded  at  right  angles 
to  that  direction,  thus  alternating  along  a  route  in  a 
general  direction  of  a  straight  line,  but  having  the 
variations  and  meanderings  of  a  worm-fence.  Thus 
the  horses  were  passed  across  two  deep  gulfs.  The 
artillery  could  not  be  used,  as  the  route  was  absolutely 
impracticable  to  its  transportation.  The  men  passed 
over  the  route  letting  themselves  down  by  the  branches 
of  trees  and  pulling  themselves  up  as  occasion  might 
require.  In  this  manner  the  march  proceeded  through 
the  day,  and  having  crossed  two  gulfs,  entered  a  dim 
road  at  an  old  field  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and 
camped  in  line  of  battle  by  the  roadside  in  the  edge  of 
a- skirt  of  woods. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  nth  the  column 
moved  cautiously  along  till  about  nine  o'clock,  when  it 
came  to  a  branch  at  the  head  of  the  cove,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  the  branch  until  about  ten  o'clock,  when, 
from  the  fresh  tracks  in  the  road,  it  was  indicated  that 
a  column  of  troops  had  just  preceded  us,  and  it  was 
ascertained  further  that  a  Federal  column  had  marched 
down  just  ahead  of  ours,  and  another  was  expected 
along  in  the  afternoon  to  re-enforce  the  Federal  position 
down  the  valley.  Our  brigade  had  advanced  faster 
than  was  intended,  and  was  near  six  miles  farther 
down  the  valley  than  was  expected.  We  were  out  of 
supporting  distance  of  General  Loring's  column,  and 
were  in  a  critical  position,  the  enemy  in  front  and  rear, 
and  the  mountains  on  either  side. 

General  Lee  had  ordered  the  different  commanders 
to  see  that  each  man  in  their  respective  commands 
tack  a  piece  of  white  cloth  or  paper  on  the  front  of 
his  hat  and  keep  it  on  during  the  whole  expedi- 
tion. This  order  was  given  on  the  morning  of  our  de- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


35 


parture  from  Valley  Mountain,  and  its  object  was  to 
distinguish  his  men  from  the  enemy,  as  the  war  had 
not  been  going  on  a  great  while,  and  neither  govern- 
ment had  yet  adopted  a  regular  uniform  for  its  troops. 
The  clothing  of  the  men  and  the  regimentals  of  the 
officers  of  the  opposing  armies  were  so  near  alike  that 
it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other, 


GENERAL    ROBERT    E.    LEE. 

except  by  their  location.  At  this  particular  juncture 
it  was  very  important  that  some  badge  of  distinction 
be  adopted,  especially  by  that  portion  of  the  army  that 
was  to  operate  in  the  enemy's  rear.  This  badge  of 
white  cloth  prevented  Anderson's  brigade  from  attack- 
ing Donelson's  at  one  time  on  the  march,  and  also  had 
the  effect  to  puzzle  the  Yankees.  When  a  prisoner 


36  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

was  captured  his  first  question  was,  "What  is  that 
white  cloth  for?" 

Having  traveled  more  rapidly  than  the  other  part  of 
the  army,  on  the  morning  of  September  n  General 
Donelson  found  himself  at  the  outposts  of  the  enemy, 
at  the  head  of  Tygert's  Valley.  Learning  the  position 
of  the  pickets,  he  had  a  consultation  with  Colonel 
Savage,  whom  he  always  consulted  promptly  on  crit- 
ical occasions,  and  the  pickets  having  been  surprised 
and  captured  without  alarming  their  confederates, 
Colonel  Savage,  with  Captain  Bryant's  company  of 
the  Eighth  Tennessee,  and  Captain  L.  N.  Savage's 
company  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  accompanied  by 
the  guide,  proceeded  as  an  advance-guard  down  the 
valley,  and  soon  came  upon  the  second  stand  of  pick- 
ets, who  attempted  to  escape,  when  they  were  fired 
upon,  and  two  of  their  number  fell.  The  others,  three 
in  number,  were  made  prisoners,  and  from  them  the 
position  of  the  main  picket  force  was  ascertained, 
which  consisted  of  a  full  company  of  infantry,  posted 
a  short  distance  down  the  valley,  at  an  old  house  where 
a  road  came  into  the  valley  across  the  ridge  from 
Becky's  Run.  The  house  was  by  the  side  of  this  road 
at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  behind  an  angle  of  woods  that 
projected  into  the  valley,  and  completely  concealed 
them  from  our  view,  and  as  completely  concealed  our 
approach. 

The  advanced  pickets  and  a  few  stragglers  about  the 
main  stand  having  been  successfully  captured  without 
giving  any  alarm  to  the  main  picket  force,  Colonel 
Savage,  with  his  two  companies,  dashed  upon  the  po- 
sition furiously,  and  charging  ahead  of  his  force,  he 
rushed  into  their  very  midst,  and  before  they  were 
scarcely  aware  of  his  presence,  he  had  placed  himself 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  37 

between  them  and  their  command  and  cut  off  their  re- 
treat. Having  gained  this  point  so  suddenly,  he  de- 
manded the  surrender  of  the  whole  force.  This  took 
the  Yankees  by  surprise,  and  a  few  attempted  to  make 
their  escape,  while  a  few  attempted  to  fire  on  him  from 
the  window  of  the  house.  Colonel  Savage  halted  those 
attempting  to  escape,  and,  driving  them  back  into  the 
yard,  flourished  his  pistol  in  their  faces  and  told  them 
that  if  they  did  not  surrender  instantly,  he  "would 

have  the  last  d d  one  of  them  shot  in  less  than  five 

minutes!  "  At  this  instant  the  advance-guard  appeared, 
and,  filing  on  each  side  of  the  house,  assumed  a  posi- 
tion confirming  the  threat,  and  the  whole  company 
surrendered  to  Colonel  Savage  on  the  spot,  without 
the  escape  of  a  single  man  to  give  the  alarm  to  the  en- 
campment below. 

This  was  a  daring  deed  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Sav- 
age, and  might  be  considered  by  some  as  reckless,  but 
it  was  an  achievement  of  much  importance  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  expedition.  Its  feasibility  and  importance 
were  quickly  comprehended  by  Colonel  Savage  on 
the  very  eve  of  its  consummation.  This  point  was  an 
important  one,  for  it  guarded  the  main  approach  to  the 
Federal  position  on  their  left  flank,  and  also  the  only 
available  approach  to  Becky's  Run  in  their  rear,  by 
way  of  the  road  that  came  down  Tygert's  Valley  at 
the  old  house.  The  importance  of  this  point  being 
understood  by  the  Federal  commander,  he  had  placed 
a  heavy  picket  force  here  to  protect  his  flank  and  rear. 
Colonel  Savage,  taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance, 
saw  the  importance  of  making  _a  prompt  and  speedy 
capture  of  this  point,  without  allowing  any  one  to 
escape  to  give  the  alarm,  as  the  Federals  could  have 
brought  out  a  heavy  force  in  a  few  minutes.  By  thus 


38  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

capturing  the  position,  the  column  could  gain  its  posi- 
tion on  Becky's  Run  before  the  Federals  could  realize 
the  situation.  The  resolve  was  quickly  made  and  as 
quickly  pushed  to  a  successful  consummation.  The  pris- 
oners, fifty-six  in  number,  having  yielded  to  the  daring 
and  prowess  of  one  gallant  officer,*  were  promptly 

*The  Nashville  Union  and  American,  under  date  of  Decem- 
ber 5,  1861,  printed  the  following  account  of  this  transaction,  as 
given  by  its  correspondent  from  the  Army  of  North-western  Vir- 
ginia, Dr.  J.  W.  Gray: 

General  Donelson  took  up  "his  line  of  march  down  Conley's  . 
Run,  and  over  the  mountain  to  Stewart's  Run;  took  down  its  wa- 
ters, and,  before  proceeding  far,  one  of  the  guides  gave  intelligence 
that  the  enemy's  pickets  were  stationed  at  the  Matthew's  House, 
a  little  distance  below.  This  seemed  to  call  back  many  years  of 
our  brave  old  general's  life.  He  at  once  had  his  advance-guard 
thrown  into  position,  and  directed  Colonel  Fulton,  with  the  guide 
"  Butcher,"  to  proceed  on  the  slope  of  the  hill  to  the  left  of  the 
house,  with  a  view  to  preclude  escape;  and,  as  this  party  pro- 
ceeded, placed  himself  at  a  point  from  which  he  had  a  full  view  of 
the  house,  and  then  as  they  came  down  the  hill,  and,  seeing  that 
they  were  coming  down  right,  gave  the  command,  "Charge!" 
He  advanced  upon  the  house  and  witnessed  the  capture  of  four 
pickets  by  Colonel  Fulton  and  the  guide,  Dr.  Butcher.  Here  the 
General  placed  Colonel  Savage,  with  Captain  Savage's  compa- 
ny of  the  Sixteenth  and  Captain  Bryant's  company  of  the  Eighth 
Regiment,  as  an  advance  guard.  Captain  Bryant  was  in  com- 
mand, being  the  oldest  captain. 

Advancing  about  half  a  mile  they  suddenly  came  upon  six 
other  pickets,  four  of  whom  surrendered.  The  other  two,  en- 
deavoring to  escape  down  the  creek  (as  Tennesseans  call  a  Vir- 
ginia "  run  "),  were  shot  mortally.  Thirteen  were  captured  with- 
out one  being  left  to  alarm  their  comrades  in  advance  of  the 
"  rebel's "  approach.  The  two  companies,  led  by  the  faithful 
guide,  "Butcher,"  and  Colonel  Savage,  saw  another  Yankee  in 
the  road,  gun  in  hand,  looking  steadily  upon  them,  and,  by  the 
time  he  discovered  for  certain  that  they  were  not  his  friends  who 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  39 

secured,  and,  after  allowing  each  one  to  retain  his  bag- 
gage and  personal  outfit,  their  arms  and  munitions 
were  duly  appropriated.  A  detail  was  made  to  guard 
the  prisoners,  and  their  arms  were  distributed  among 
the  troops  for  transportation. 

were  approaching,  they  had  him  in  pistol  range  commanding  him 
to  surrender.  He  was  much  confused,  but  durst  not  run.  Just  at 
this  moment  two  others  were  seen  to  rush  into  a  little  brush 
guard -house  below  and  seize  their  guns,  and,  upon  reappearing, 
fled  in  the  direction  of  a  woody  hill-side,  but  before  reaching  it 
were  overtaken  and  soon  "quicking  it"  back  to  the  advance- 
guard,  which  was  hard  by,  rather  than  be  dispatched  in  a  more 
summary  manner. 

About  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  above  a  place  known  as  the 
Simmon's  House  three  others — the  captain  of  a  company,  a  lieu- 
tenant, and  a  private — were  seen  angling.  Colonel  Savage  and 
Dr.  Butcher  rode  suddenly  up,  and,  by  the  flourish  of  a  pistol, 
caused  them  to  wade  the  run  and  surrender.  The  roar  and  rip- 
ple of  the  stream  prevented  them  from  hearing  any  thing  that  had 
transpired  above  them.  One  of  these,  a  fussy  Dutchman,  was 
frightened  so  near  out  of  his  wits  that  in  answer  to  an  impera- 
tive demand,  told  them  that  the  whole  company  was  at  the  house, 
just  below,  the  view  to  which  was  fortunately  obstructed  by  a 
cluster  of  trees.  Colonel  Savage  ordered  the  men  to  "double- 
quick,"  and  upon  turning  the  grove  he,  still  accompanied  by  Dr. 
Butcher,  both  mounted,  posted  off  at  full  speed  to  charge  the 
house  in  front.  The  Yankees  discovering  them  began  to  bustle 
and  stir  in  all  manner  of  confusion,  but  the  undaunted  Savage, 
with  his  navy  repeater  drawn  and  presented,  dashed  fearlessly  up- 
on them,  and,  in  tones  and  looks  of  terror,  exclaimed:  "Down 
with  your  arms,  or  you  die!"  "I'll  blow  out  the  first  man's  brains 
that  attempts  to  fire!"  When  he  had  fully  gained  the  opposite 
side  of  the  house  he  discovered  several  running,  but  with  a  com- 
mand that  made  the  cowardly  blood  shiver  about  their  arteries  he 
halted  them  and  marched  them  back  to  the  house.  Some  of  the 
Yankees  ran  into  the  house,  and,  presenting  their  guns  through 
the  window,  were  in  the  act  of  shooting,  when  Colonel  Savage, 


40  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

The  brigade  came  up  at  a  double-quick,  and  the 
alarm  having  been  exaggerated,  the  men  had  been 
hurried  up  more  rapidly  than  the  occasion  demanded. 
Accordingly,  to  facilitate  their  advance,  many  of  the 
troops  threw  down  their  knapsacks  and  blankets,  and 

knowing  that  his  life  depended  upon  some  devilish  act  of  daring, 
fearlessly  rode  up  to  the  window  and  rising  in  his  stirrups  said, 
"  Fire  if  you  dare,  and  every  man  of  you  dies ! " 

Captain  Bryant's  and  Captain  Savage's  men  were  rapidly  ap- 
proaching. Not  a  gun  was  fired.  All  laid  down  their  a"rms  and 
were  prisoners  of  war.  Two  others  were  now  discovered  on  the 
hill-side  at  a  long  distance  attempting  to  make  their  escape,  but 
the  invincible  "Butcher"  leveled  his  Sharpe's  rifle  upon  them  and 
one  fell.  The  guide  (Wood),  it  is  supposed,  mortally  wounded 
the  other,  though  there  were  several  shots  made  at  him.  The 
Yankee  officers  delivered  up  their  swords  and  small  arms.  The 
swords  were  very  handsome,  and  are  now  worn,  one  by  Colonel 
Savage,  one  by  Dr.  Butcher,  and  the  other  by  General  Donelson's 
aid,  Major  James  G.  Martin.  Among  their  guns  were  found 
several  Enfield  rifles.  Of  these  trophies  General  Donelson  pos- 
sesses .one,  Colonel  A.  S.  Fulton  one,  and  Colonel  Savage  the . 
other. 

The  bold  deed  above  alluded  to  was  all  accomplished  in  a  few 
minutes,  giving  the  Yankees  no  time  to  determine  upon  any  com- 
mon action.  They  doubtless  could  have  shot  Colonel  Savage  and 
Dr.  Butcher,  and  many,  if  not  all  of  them,  could  have  made  their 
escape,  for  the  woods  were  near  by,  and  most  of  our  men,  Cap- 
tain Bryant  and  Captain  Savage  excepted,  some  distance  off, 
though  coming  up  with  all  their  speed.  But  the  Yankees  were 
surprised,  and  seemed  to  be  utterly  confounded.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  we  had  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoners  sixty-two 
inclusive,  and  this  expedition  has  scarcely  a  parallel  in  history, 
for,  while  but  little  blood  was  spilt  and  not  a  large  number  cap- 
tured, there  is  yet  something  remarkable  in  the  circumstance  of 
having  fired  guns  and  taken  in  succession  each  set  of  pickets,  all 
posted  so  near  each  other,  without  the  first  alarming  the  second, 
and  the  second  the  third,  and  so  on,  until  our  enterprise  had  been 
thwarted. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  41 

the  brigade  was  hurried  forward  into  line  of  battle 
across  the  valley.  By  the  time  this  was  accomplished 
it  was  ascertained  that  the  trouble  was  over  and  the 
Yankees  captured.  The  prisoners  were  placed  in  line 
at  the  rear,  and  the  column  proceeded  up  the  ridge  from 
the  scene  of  action  by  way  of  the  road  formerly  men- 
tioned. At  the  top  of  the  hill  a  large  bundle  of  Yan- 
kee dispatches  were  discovered  in  a  pile  of  leaves  in 
the  path.  These  dispatches  were  to  the  commander  of 
the  picket  force,  complaining  of  the  carelessness  of  a 
lieutenant,  and  cautioning  him  of  the  danger  of  sur- 
prise. With  this  information,  and  some  other  confiden- 
tial matter  in  which  some  patriotic  jealousy  and  official 
spleen  were  manifest,  some  valuable  information  was 
gained  in  reference  to  the  position  and  strength  of  the 
enemy.  The  Yankee  courier  was  unable  to  deliver 
the  package  to  the  commander  of  the  pickets,  and  see- 

The  Savannah  Republican  contained  the  following  account  of 
this  daring  adventure  shortly  after  its  occurrence,  as  given  by  a 
correspondent  from  the  Army  of  North-western  Virginia,  under 
date  of  September  21,  1861: 

A  BOLD  CAPTURE. — After  inarching  about  three  miles  from 
Tygart's  river  Colonel  Savage,  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Reg- 
iment, desiring  to  make  a  reconnoissance.  sallied  off  from  his 
regiment  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  while  alone  he  suddenlv 
and  unexpectedly  came  up  to  where  a  company  of  Yankees  were 
stationed.  Both  he  and  they  were  considerably  surprised,  but 
the  gallant  Colonel,  changing  not  a  color  in  his  countenance,  in 
a  bold  and  defiant  manner,  standing  erect  in  his  stirrups,  looking 
in  his  rear,  and  then  quickly  facing  the  pickets,  exclaimed  in  a 
stentorian  voice,  "You  damned  rascals,  if  you  don't  ground  arms 
and  surrender  immediately,  my  men  shall  surround  you  and  shoot 
you  to  pieces  in  a  minute!"  They  did  surrender,  and  he  made 
them  prisoners  without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  The  company  con- 
sisted of  three  commissioned,  four  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
sixty  privates. 


42  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

ing  his  own  escape  cut  off,  he  dropped  the  bundle  and 
covered  it  hastily  with  leaves.  Becoming  uncovered 
as  the  men  passed  over  it,  it  was  discovered  by  the 
writer  and  handed  to  Captain  Dillard,  who  made  such 
disposal  of  it  as  he  thought  proper. 

It  was  now  raining,  and  in  the  afternoon.  The  col- 
umn moved  cautiously  along  the  ridge,  and  came  to  a 
valley  on  the  upper  waters  of  Becky's  Run.  Proceed- 
ing down  the  run  we  arrived  about  sundown  at  an 
old  house  where  a  log  heap  was  burning.  This  was 
evidently  a  picket  stand,  but  the  pickets,  aware  of  our 
approach,  had  withdrawn,  and  the  Federal  commander 
found  himself  approached  by  an  enemy  from  every 
direction. 

We  were  now  in  the  rear  of  the  Federal  position. 
We  were  occupying  the  west  base  of  the  ridge,  they 
were  fortified  at  the  east  base,  and  the  ridge  terminated 
on  our  immediate  right.  General  Donelson  ascended 
the  ridge  about  dark,  and  moved  up  carefully  to  the 
top,  then  over  the  ridge  under  cover  of  the  night,  till 
Fulton's  regiment  was  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of 
the  enemy's  camp-fires.  Savage's  regiment  stopped  at 
the  top  of  the  hill.  The  path  was  narrow  over  which 
the  troops  moved,  and  the  undergrowth  so  thick  that 
the  men  could  scarcely  pass  through  it.  The  night 
was  very  dark,  and  the  rain  incessant.  About  nine 
o'clock  in  the  night  Colonel  Savage  suggested  to  Gen- 
eral Donelson  the  propriety  of  bringing  Fulton's  regi- 
ment to  the  top  of  the  ridge  and  encamping.  It  was 
accomplished  with  great  difficulty,  and  the  men  slept 
all  night  on  their  arms.  Every  commander  had  now 
gained  the  position  assigned  him,  and  the  attack  was 
to  open  on  the  morning  o£  the  i2th.  The  plan  had 
worked  admirably  thus  far.  General  Loring  was  in 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  43 

front  of  the  Federal  position  on  the  Huttonville  pike, 
and  •was  to  attack  in  front.  General  Jackson  was  in 
position  in  front  of  Cheat  Mountain.  General  Donel- 
son  had  gained  the  rear  of  the  position  confronted  by 
Loring,  and  General  Anderson  had  gained  a  corre- 
sponding position  to  support  and  co-operate  with  Gen- 
eral Jackson. 

The  troops  lay  upon  their  arms  during  the  night,  and 
the  rain  was  continual.  Morning  dawned^and  the  men 
were  put  in  shape  for  battle.  It  had  rained  continually 
throughout  the  night,  and,  having  flint-lock  muskets, 
which  had  been  loaded  the  evening  before,  the  loads 
had  become  wet,  and  the  first  thing  the  men  did  in  the 
morning  was  to  extract  the  charges  from  their  guns 
and  put  them  in  good  order.  They  had  all  kept  their 
powder  dry,  and  having  rubbed  up  their  gun%|and  ex- 
amined their  flints  they  awaited  the  signal  for  attack. 
Hours  passed  and  no  signal  was  given.  It  was  eight 
o'clock  before  the  cause  of  delay  was  made  known. 
General  H.  R.Jackson  was  to  open  the  attack  on  Cheat 
Mountain  pass  with  Colonel  Rust's  brigade,  "and  the 
other  commanders  were  to  follow  in  the  atttack  upon 
the  positions  in  their  respective  fronts.  The  men  were 
becoming  anxious,  and  were  realizing  that  if  any  thing 
had  happened  to  frustrate  the  plan  of  operations  our 
situation  was  critical  indeed. 

General  Loring  had  gained  his  position  in  front  of 
the  Federals  on  the  Huttonville  pike  as  before  men- 
tioned. The  pike  ran  along  the  base  of  the  ridge  in 
front  of  the  Federal  works,  and  the  Valley  River  ran 
parallel  with  the  pike  near  by.  General  Loring  had  to 
cross  the  river  before  he  could  attack  this  position.  The 
rains  the  previous  night  had  swollen  the  river,  and  he 
was  unable  to  cross. 


44  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

General  Jackson  occupied  the  first  summit  of  Cheat 
Mountain,  while  the  Federals  were  fortified  between 
the  first  and  second  summits  at  a  point  known  as  Cheat 
Mountain  pass.  Colonel  Albert  Rust,  of  the  Third 
Arkansas,  was  ordered  by  Jackson  to  attack  the  pass 
on  the  morning  of  September  12,  but  finding  by  recon- 
noissahce  on  the  evening  of  the  nth  that  he  was  un- 
able to  carry  the  position,  General  Jackson  ordered  him 
back  to  cany:>,  and  the  attempt  was  abandoned.  Col- 
onel Rust  was  a  gallant  commander,  of  sterling  quali- 
ties, and  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  superior 
officers.  As  his  assault  was  to  be  the  signal  for  a  gen- 
eral assault  on  all  the  positions,  and  the  failure  of  the 
expedition  turned  upon  his  movements  (though  through 
no  fault  of  his),  the  following  report  of  his  movements, 
and  the^ause  of  the  failure  of  the  expedition,  are  given 
in  the  correspondence  between  him  and  General  Lo- 
ring. 

ORDERS  FROM  GENERAL  JACKSON  TO  COLONEL 
RUST. 

Dear  Colonel: — Return  with  your  command  into  camp.  So 
soon  as  you  arrive  address  a  letter  to  General  Loring,  explaining 
the  failure  and  the  reasons  for  it.  Show  this,  to  Captain  Neal, 
quarter-master,  and  let  him  at  once  furnish  an  express  ready  to 
take  your  letter  by  the  near  route.  If  possible,  get  the  postmas- 
ter, Mr.  Abagast,  to  go,  and  go  rapidly  and  at  once.  Say  in  your 
letter  that  I  am  in  possession  of  the  first  summit  of  Cheat  Moun- 
tain, and  am  in  hopes  of  something  going  on  in  Tygart's  Valley, 
and  shall  retain  command  of  it  until  I  receive  orders  from  head- 
quarters. It  may  bring  on  an  engagement,  but  I  am  prepared, 
and  shall  whip  them  if  they  come. 

Very  truly,  H.  R.  JACKSON. 

P.  S. — I  cannot  write  here.  Inclose  this  scrawl  in  your  letter. 
You  had  better  return  yourself  at  once  to  camp,  leaving  your 
command  to  follow.  We  had  several  skirmishes  yesterday,  and 
killed  several  of  the  enemy. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  45 

COLONEL  RUST'S  REPORT  TO  GENERAL  LORING. 

CAMP  BARTOW,  September  13,  1861. 

General : — The  expedition  against  Cheat  Mountain  failed.  My 
command  consisted  of  between  fifteen  hundred  and  sixteen  hun- 
dred men.  Got  there  at  the  appointed  time,  notwithstanding  the 
rain.  I  seized  a  number  of  their  pickets  and  scouts.  Learned 
from  them  that  the  enemy  was  between  fouf  thousand  and  five 
thousand  strong,  and  they  reported  them  to  be  strongly  fortified. 
Upon  reconnoissance  their  representations  were  fully  corrobo- 
rated. A  fort  or  block-house  on  the  point  or  elbow  of  the  road, 
intrenchments  on  the  south,  and  outside  of  the  intrenchments, 
and  all  around  up  to  the  road,  heavy  and  impassable  abatis,  if  the 
enemy  were  not  behind  them.  Colonel  Barton,  my  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  all  the  field  officers,  declared  it  would  be  madness  to 
make  an  attack.  We  learned  from  the  prisoners  that  they  were 
aware  of  your  movements,  and  had  telegraphed  for  reinforce- 
ments, and  I  heard  three  pieces  of  artillery  pass  down  the  road 
toward  your  encampment  while  we  were  seeking  to  make  an  as- 
sault upon  them.  I  took  the  assistant  commissary,  and  for  one 
regiment  I  found  upon  his  person  a  requisition  for  nine  hundred 
and  thirty  rations,  also  a  letter  indicating  that  they  had  very  little 
subsistence. 

I  brought  only  one  prisoner  back  with  me.  The  cowardice  of 
the  guard  (not  Arkansans)  permitted  the  others  to  escape.  Spies 
had  evidently  communicated  our  movements  to  the  enemy.  The 
fort  was  completed,  as  reported  by  the  prisoners  (examined  sepa- 
rately), and  another  in  process  of  construction.  We  got  near 
enough  to  see  the  enemy  in  the  trenches  beyond  the  abatis.  The 
most  of  my  command  behaved  admirably;  some  I  would  prefer 
to  be  without  upon  any  expedition. 

General  Jackson  requests  me  to  say  that  he  is  in  possession  of 
the  first  summit  of  Cheat  Mountain,  and  hopes  you  are  doing 
something  in  Tygart's  Valley,  and  will  retain  command  of  it  until 
he  receives  orders  from  your  quarters.  My  own  opinion  is  that 
there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  occupying  the  mountain.  '  It  will 
take  a  heavy  force  to  take  the  pass,  and  at  a  heavy  loss.  I  knew 
the  enemy  had  four  times  my  force,  but  for  the  abatis  we  would 
have  made  the  assault.  We  could  not  get  to  them  to  make  it. 
The  General  says  in  his  note  to  me  that  his  occupying  Cheat 


46  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

Mountain  may  bring  on  an  engagement,  but  he  is  prepared  and 
will  whip  them  if  they  come.  I  see  from  his  postscript  that  he  re- 
quests his  note  to  me  to  be  inclosed  to  you. 

I  can  only  say  that  all  human  power  could  do  toward  success 
in  my  expedition  failed  of  success.  The  taking  of  the  pickets 
seemed  like  a  providential  interposition.  I  took  the  first  one  my- 
self, being  at  the  head  of  the  column  when  I  got  to  the  road. 

In  great  haste,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  RUST,  Colonel. 

GENERAL  LORING,  Commanding. 

The  expedition  had  proved  a  failure  after  every  com- 
mand of  Lee's  army  had  gained  its  position,  and  a  gen- 
eral retreat  was  ordered. 

While  General  Lee  was  reconnoitering  the  Federal 
position  at  Cheat  Mountain  pass  on  the  nth,  Colonel 
Washington,  his  chief  of  engineers,  while  examining  a 
position  with  the  view  of  planting  a  battery,  ran  into 
an  ambuscade,  and  being  fired  upon  by  a  whole  platoon 
of  Federal  infantry,  fell,  pierced  by  many  bullets,  and 
died  instantly.  Colonel  Washington  was  an  able  and 
gallant  officer,  and  a  near  relative  of  the  Father  of  his 
Country. 

The  whole  expedition  having  failed,  General  Lee  re- 
solved to  withdraw  his  forces  a  short  distance.  Hav- 
ing given  orders  to  the  other  commanders  he  proceeded 
personally  to  the  position  occupied  by  Donelson's  Bri- 
gade, and  came  up  to  the  top  of  the  ridge,  accompa- 
nied by  an  orderly.  It  was  the  fifst  time  the  Tennes- 
see troops  had  seen  him.  As  soon  as  General  Lee  ar- 
rived at  the  top  of  the  mountain  he  ordered  General 
Donelson  to  withdraw  his  brigade  into  the  valley,  with 
his  left  in  front.  The  rear-guard  now  became  the  front 
guard,  and  -vice  -versa.  A  general  stir  was  going  on  in 
the  whole  country  below  us.  The  enemy  was  ap- 
proaching our  position,  and  had  a  heavy  force  near  the 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  47 

top  of  the  mountain  on  the  ground  occupied  by  Ful- 
ton's regiment  the  evening  before.  We  were  also  being 
approached  by  a  Yankee  column  by  way  of  Becky's 
Run.  Each  column  was  closing  in  upon  us  under  cover 
of  a  dense  "undergrowth,  which  was  so  thick  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  see  any  thing  before  us.  We  were 
in  a  complete  thicket  of  brush  and  tall  weeds,  and  our 
brigade  was  in  a  narrow  path  that  crossed  the  ridge. 
A  detail  was  made  from  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Reg- 
iment, under  Captain  H.  H.  Dillard,  to  move  in  advance 
of  the  column,  and  it  had  scarcely  reached  the  foot  of 
the  hill  when  it  was  fired  upon  by  the  Federal  advance- 
guard,  and  the  fire  was  returned.  At  this  juncture  of 
the  proceedings  the  Federals  threw  their  column  into 
line  of  battle,  and  began  to  advance  up  the  hill.  Their 
advance-guard  fronted  the  advance-guard  of  the  Six- 
teenth Regiment,  but  their  main  line  diverged  from 
Donelson's  line  at  an  angle  of  about  fifty  degrees.  The 
brigade  proceeded  down  the  hill  rapidly,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  left  of  the  Sixteenth  became  engaged. 
The  Federals  had  not  learned  our  position,  and  fired  a 
volley  at  the  Sixteenth,  but  the  bullets  hit  in  the  tree- 
tops.  Some  of'  the  boys  seemed  amused  at  such 
wild  shooting,  and  shouted  to  the  Yankees  at  the  top 
of  their  voices  that  they  were  shooting  into  the  tree- 
tops. 

A  moving  fight  now  began,  though  no  line  of  battle 
was  formed.  The  men,  as  they  did  in  Tygart's  Valley 
the  day  before,  began  to  throw  down  their  knapsacks 
and  blankets,  and  to  divest  themselves  of  all  incum- 
brances.-  The  Federals  at  one  point  were  within  a  few 
steps  of  us,  but  were  firing  at  random,  the  smoke  of 
the  guns  and  the  report  being  the  only  means  of  dis- 
tinguishing their  true  position.  Colonel  Savage  or- 


48 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


dered  a  charge.  With  his  shrill  and  commanding  voice 
he  gave  the  command,  "  Charge  the  damned  rascals, 
'and  pack  them  off  on  your  bayonets!"  The  order  was 
no  sooner  given  than  executed  with  a  will.  The  men 


COLONEL    JOHN    H.    SAVAGE. 

raised  the  old  rebel  yell  that  echoed  along  the  valley  for 
miles.  The  Yankees  retreated  in  hot  haste  through  the 
field  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  with  the  old  Sixteenth  at 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  49 

their  heels.  The  Eighth  came  on  as  fast  as  the  nature 
of  the  position  would  allow. 

The  Yankees  retreated  to  the  run  about  the  middle 
of  the  valley,  about  three  hundred  yards  distant.  The 
run  being  very  narrow,  and  having  dirt  banks,  was 
swollen  by  the  night  rains  and  the  banks  were  soft  and 
slippery.  In  attempting  to  jump  the  run  many  would 
light  on  the  brink  of  the  opposite  bank  and  slip  down 
into  the  water  to  their  armpits,  and  were  thus  made 
prisoners. 

As  soon  as  the  Yankees  passed  Becky's  Run  they 
fell  back  upon  their  main  line,  and  the  fight  was  over. 
The  Federal  loss  was  eight  or  ten  killed,  and  about 
eighteen  prisoners.  The  Confederate  loss  was  one  man 
killed,  private  Alpha  Martin,  of  Captain  Meadows' 
company,  and  one  or  two  slightly  wounded.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin was  a  gallant  soldier,  and  a  splendid  fellow.  His 
comrades  all  respected  and  loved  him,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  regretted.  He  was  the  first  man  of  the  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  who  fell  upon  the  field  of  battle. 
This  was  the  first  time  the  regiment  was  ever  under  fire, 
and  the  men  acted  bravely. 

The  skirmish  was  a  small  affair  compared  with  other 
engagements.  It  did  not  exceed  ten  minutes'  duration, 
though  a  hasty  retreat  was  all  that  prevented  a  general 
engagement,  with  the  odds  all  against  us. 

The  brigade  was  withdrawn  up  Becky's  Run,  and 
the  whole  Yankee  force  had  come  out  from  the  works 
to  the  top  of  the  ridge  where  we  were  stationed  but  a 
few  minutes  .before.  The  men  were  unable  to  recover 
their  baggage,  which  they  dropped  in  the  first  of  the 
charge,  as  the  enemy  was  now  on  the  ground  from 
our  rear.  The  Federals,  mentioning  this  circumstance, 
exaggerated  the  defeat  of  General  Lee's  campaign,  and 
4 


50     THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

gave  it  the  appearance  of  a  rout.  The  Confederates 
threw  down  their  baggage  in  the  charge,  and  not  in 
the  retreat.  . 

The  brigade  proceeded  up  the  valley  for  a  while  and, 
turning  to  the  right,  marched  about  eight  miles  to  the 
top  of  a  high  mountain,  whose  sides  and  base  were 
covered  with  meadows  and  fields.  This  was  the  pos- 
session of  a  wealthy  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Here 
the  men  were  supplied  with  beef  of  the  best  quality, 
but  without  bread  or  salt.  As  the  men  were  hungry 
as  well  as  weary,  they  broiled  their  beef  upon  the  coals 
and  ate  it.  The  brigade  rested  here  during  the  night, 
and  till  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  when  they 
marched  to  a  spring  on  the  bench  of  the  mountain,  and 
on  the  day  following  took  position  in  Tygart's  Valley, 
near  the  very  point  where  the  pickets  had  been  cap- 
tured on  the  nth.  A  heavy  guard  was  placed  around 
the  brigade  to  prevent  surprise,  and  a  detail  was  sent 
on  horseback  to  the  wagon  train  to  get  bread  for  the 
men. 

The  attempt  upon  Cheat  Mountain  having  failed, 
General  Lee  resolved  to  renew  the  expedition,  and,  on 
the  i4th  of  September,  issued  the  following  order  to 
his  troops: 

General  Order)        HEAD-QUARTERS,  VALLEY  RIVER,  VA.,^ 
No.  — .        )  September  14,  i86i.f 

The  forced  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  position,  both  at 
Cheat  Mountain  pass  and  on  Valley  River,  having  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  character  of  the  natural  approaches  and  the  na- 
ture of  the  artificial  defenses  exposed,  the  Army  of  the  North- 
west will  resume  its  former  position,  and  at  such  time  and  in  such 
manner  as  General  Loring  shall  direct,  and  continue  its  prepara- 
tions for  further  operations.  The  commanding  general  experi- 
enced much  gratification  at  the  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  displayed 
by  the  troops  in  this  arduous  operation.  The  promptitude  with 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  51 

which  they  surmounted  every  difficulty,  driving  in  and  capturing 
the  enemy's  pickets  on  the  fronts  examined,  and  exhibiting  that 
readiness  for  attack,  gives  assurance  of  victory  when  opportunity 
offers.  R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 

In  accordance  with  this  order,  the  troops  were  all 
placed  in  readiness  for  a  renewal  of  the  campaign,  but 
subsequent  developments  changed  the  purpose  of  the 
Commander-in-chief,  and  he  resolved  to  withdraw  the 
whole  force  nearer  to  his  base  of  supplies. 

Accordingly,  on  the  i5th,  the  column  set  out  on  a 
general  retreat,  and  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  was  as- 
signed to  the  responsible  duty  of  bringing  up  the  rear. 
On  the  evening  of  the  i6th  the  brigade  arrived  at  Big 
Spring.  On  the  iyth  flour  and  bacon  were  issued  to 
the  men,  and  they  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  cooking  and 
eating  in  a  more  civilized  manner.  The  brigade  re- 
mained at  Big  Spring  during  the  i9th  and  2oth  of 
September,  and  the  men,  resting  from  their  severe  cam- 
paign, enjoyed  themselves  as  best  they  could.  Some 
of  the  boys  of  the  Sixteenth  went  out  foraging,  and 
returned  with  chickens,  vegetables,  and  other  luxuries, 
purchased  from  the  natives  after  much  persuading,  and 
paying  fabulous  prices  in  Confederate  money.  One 
peculiar  luxury  at  this  point  and  date  was  the  black- 
berry. It  was  now  the  2oth  day  of  September,  and 
these  berries  were  just  beginning  to  ripen  in  the  «ld 
fields  and  fence-corners  about  Big  Spring,  on  this  por- 
tion of  the  mountains  of  North-western  Virginia.  The 
briers  were  thick  and  prolific,  and  the  boys  interviewed 
them  liberally  with  their  camp-kettles,  bringing  in  large 
quantities  of  fresh  berries,  which  were  made  into  dump- 
lings and  cobblers.  Though  destitute  of  much  of  the 
high  flavoring  and  fancy  qualities  of  more  experienced 
cookery,  they  were  highly  agreeable  to  the  palate,  and 


52  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

were  enjoyed  by  the  men  who  had  before  this  learned, 
by  repeated  experience,  that  a  good  appetite  is  not  a 
severe  critic  on  cookery. 

On  the  22d  of  September  the  Sixteenth  Regiment, 
together  with  its  brigade,  left  Big  Spring  and  marched 
to  Elk  Mountain,  seventeen  miles  distant.  The  weath- 
er was  very  cold,  and  many  of  the  men  had  worn  out 
their  shoes  and  wrere  barefooted.  The  regiment  en- 
camped at  the  foot  of  Elk  Mountain,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  23d  shoes  were  given  to  the  most  destitute, 
and  the  column  moved  to  Greenbrier  Bridge.  The 
morning  was  cold  and  a  large  frost  was  on  the  ground. 
Remaining  all  day  and  all  night  at  Greenbrier  Bridge, 
the  march  was  resumed  on  the  evening  of  the  251!!. 
The  command  had  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Sew- 
ell  Mountain  to  the  relief  of  Generals  Wise  and  Flovd, 
who  were  being  pressed  by  Rosecrans,  and  were  forced 
to  fall  back  on  Meadow  Bluff.  The  regiment  marched 
thirteen  miles,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  resumed 
its  march  through  a  thrifty  and  prosperous  country, 
and  made  seventeen  miles,  arriving  in  the  evening  in  a 
woods  pasture  where  they  camped  for  the  night.  A 
cold  rain  set  in  about  night,  and  continued  the  greater 
part  of  the  night.  The  regiment  was  without  tents  or 
shelter  of  any  kind,  and  many  of  the  men  groped  their 
way  in  the  darkness  to  the  barns  and  outhouses  of  the 
neighborhood  and  sheltered  till  morning.  In  the  morn- 
ing it  was  very  cold  and  still  raining.  Spirits  were 
issued  to  the  companies,  and  the  march  was  resumed 
about  seven  o'clock.  The  rain  continued  all  day,  and 
after  passing  through  Frankford  and  Lewisburg  the 
regiment  arrived  at  its  camping  place  late  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  2yth.  Colonel  Savage  marched  his  regiment 
into  a  lot  where  there  was  a  large  barn  with  long  sheds 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  53 

on  its  sides  and  end.  The  owner  of  the  premises  told 
Colonel  Savage  to  put  his  men  under  the  shelters,  and 
to  use  his  rails  to  make  fires  by  which  to  dry  them- 
selves. The  men  were  marched  under  the  sheds  where, 
drenched,  cold,  and  weary,  they  deposited  their  lug- 
gage and  built  fires  along  in  front.  Here  they  dried 
themselves  and  cooked  their  suppers.  After  supper 
they  laid  down  and  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  a  good 
shelter  by  good  fires.  On  the  morning  of  September 
28,  they  drew  and  cooked  a  day's  rations,  and  marched 
to  Meadow  Bluff  in  the  evening.  On  the  evening  of 
the  29th  the  regiment  arrived  at  Sewell  Mountain, 
within  plain  sight  and  hearing  of  the  enemy. 

General  Lee  drew  up  his  forces  on  Little  Sewell, 
while  Rosecrans,  with  his  army  and  the  army  of  Gen- 
eral Cox,  were  encamped  on  Big  Sewell,  with  just  a 
small  valley  between  them.  The  Charleston  road  ran 
through  the  encampment  of  each  army,  and  the  two 
opposing  commanders,  with  their  respective  commands, 
stood  comparatively  inactive  and  looked  at  each  other 
until  October  6,  when  the  Federal  forces  struck  their 
tents  and  fell  back  in  the  direction  of  Charleston. 
General  Lee  sent  out  a  reconnoitering  force  to  see 
where  they  had  gone,  but  finding  nothing  of  interest 
or  consequence  the  party  returned  to  Little  Sewell. 

Winter  was  rapidly  approaching.  The  roads  were 
bad,  and  the  Federals  were  far  from  their  base  of  sup- 
plies. These  circumstances  caused  the  Federal  com- 
mander to  fall  back  to  a  point  nearer  his  supplies.  Gen- 
eral Lee  remained  at  Little  Sewell  and  awaited  devel- 
opments. The  Federals  showed  no  disposition  to  come 
out  and  renew  hostilities,  and  with  each  army  the  cam- 
paign was  practically  over  for  the  winter. 

The  Sixteenth  was  moved  to  the  foot  of  Little  Sew- 


54  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

ell,  where  it  drilled  morning  and  evening.  The  weath- 
er was  becoming  quite  cold,  and  having  a  limited 
amount  of  clothing,  and  that  badly  worn  out,  the  men 
suffered  severely  and  began  to  fall  sick  rapidly.  The 
sick  were  sent  to  Lewisburg  and  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  and  the  regiment  remained  at  the  foot  of  Lit- 
tle Sewell  until  the  2oth  day  of  October,  when  the 
men  all  received  two  months'  pay;  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  2 ist  marched  back  to  Meadow  Bluff,  a  distance 
of  thirteen  miles.  On  the  22d  the  march  was  resumed 
to  Lewisburg,  seventeen  miles  distant,  and  continued 
on  the  23d  and  24th  to  Mill  Point,  thirty-three  miles 
from  Lewisburg.  On  the  25th  the  regiment  arrived  at 
Greenbrier  bridge,  which  was  guarded  by  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Greenbrier  militia.  These  men  wore  a 
kind  of  overcoat  with  a  large  cape  attached.  The  boys 
of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  at  this  place  received  coats 
of  this  kind,  which  they  called  "militias,"  a  name  by 
which  this  particular  kind  of  garment  was  familliarly 
known  during  the  remainder  of  the  war. 

At  noon  on  the  2yth  the  regiment  took  up  its  line  of 
march,  and  camped  that  evening  within  one  mile  of 
Huntersville,  where  it  remained  until  November  n, 
when  it  took  up  its  line  of  march  and  traveled  twelve 
miles  in  the  direction  of  Lewisburg,  having  been  or- 
dered to  that  point  with  the  least  possible  delay.  Ar- 
riving at  Lewisburg  on  the  I4th,  the  regiment  en- 
camped near  that  place.  Winter  had  now  set  in  in 
earnest.  Snow  fell  on  the  lyth  and  iSth,  and  the 
weather  was  severely  cold.  On  the  i9th  a  supply  of 
clothing  arrived  for  the  regiment  from  the  folks  at 
home.  There  was  a  bountiful  supply  of  clothing  of 
every  kind — coats,  shoes,  hats,  bed-clothing,  and  all  the 
bodily  comforts  that  the  good  people  at  home  could  de- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


55 


vise  were  received  at  this  time.  Letters  from  fathers, 
mothers,  brothers,  sisters,  wives,  sweethearts,  and 
friends  were  also  received.  The  Sixteenth  now  en- 
joyed itself  by  its  big  log  fires,  dressed  up  in  its  new 
clothes,  with  nothing  to  do  but  to  rest  and  delight  in 
the  timely  bounty  of  its  friends  and  relatives  at  home. 


CAPTAIN    W.    G.    ETTER. 

Every  man  was  made  comfortable.  Among  the  many 
knick-nacs  received  at  this  time  from  the  home  folk,  was 
a  magnificent  and  highly  appreciated  donation  fi'om 
James  Hill,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  H.  L.  W.  Hill,  consisting 
of  several  hundred  bottles  of  splendid  apple  brandy, 


56  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

which  the  boys  in  their  worn-out  and  wearied  condi- 
tion enjoyed  to  the  fullest,  and  treasured  with  the 
warmest  feelings  the  names  and  memory  of  the  kind 
donors. 

It  was  now  November  2oth,  and  the  regiment  had 
marched  over  much  ground  and  endured  many  hard- 
ships. The  regiment  remained  in  camp  near  Lewis- 
burg  until  November  28th,  when  orders  were  received 
to  be  ready  to  march  on  the  following  morning.  The 
29th  and  3Oth  days  of  November  being  very  inclement 
on  account  of  so  much  rain  and  mud,  the  order  was 
suspended.  On  the  ist  day  of  December  the  regiment 
marched  eight  miles.  On  the  2d  it  passed  Salt  Sulphur 
Springs,  and  encamped  at  night  at  the  Red  Sulphur 
Springs.  Proceeding  onward  on  the  4th,  passed  through 
Petertown  on  the  5th,  crossing  New  River  in  ferry- 
boats, arrived  at  Dublin  depot  on  the  8th,  where  or- 
ders were  received  to  proceed  immediately  to  Charles- 
ton, S.  C. 

Drawing  four  days'  rations,  and  taking  the  cars  on 
the  nth,  proceeded  by  way  of  Petersburg  and  Wil- 
mington to  Charleston,  and  from  Charleston  to  Poco- 
taligo.  Genei'al  Lee  had  been  put  in  charge  of  the 
coast  defenses,  with  head-quarters  at  Charleston.  The 
Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Tennessee  regiments,  and  the 
Sixtieth  Virginia  accompanied  General  Lee,  and,  arriv- 
ing at  Pocotaligo  about  n  o'clock  on  the  i9th,  went 
into  camp  near  the  station. 

With  the  exception  of  a  little  demonstration  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  at  Port  Royal  ferry,  on  the  ist  of 
January,  there  was  comparative  quiet  all  along  the 
coast  from  Charleston  to  Savannah  during  the  winter. 
The  sick  that  had  been  left  in  Virginia  were  rapidly 
recovering,  and  while  many  rejoined  their  commands  in 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  57 

South  Carolina,  many  others  were  left  to  sleep  their 
last  sleep  beneath  the  Virginia  soil. 

At  Pocotaligo  the  boys  did  nothing  but  drill  and  do 
picket  duty  along  the  coast  to  prevent  surprises  and 
communication  between  the  Yankees  and  the  negroes. 
Vegetables  and  fish  being  plentiful,  and  the  climate  de- 
lightful, the  men  grew  healthy  and  happy,  and  almost 
forgot  that  the  war  was  going  on. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1862,  orders  were  received 
to  hold  an  election  for  major  on  the  25th,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  election  of  H.  H.  Faulkner,  major  of  the 
Sixteenth  Tennessee,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  Major  Goodbar.  Shortly  afterward  the 
regiment  was  removed  to  Grahamville,  where  it  re- 
mained in  quiet  until  April  yth,  when  it  was  ordered 
to  Corinth,  Miss.,  to  reinforce  Beauregard. 


58  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


CAMPAIGNS  AND  BATTLES 

SIXTEENTH  TENNESSEE  REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    II. 

CAMPAIGNS  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


A 


S  soon  as  the  Tennessee  troops  arrived  at  Charles- 
ton the  following  order  was  issued  from  General 
Lee's  head-quarters: 

General  Order)  HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  THE  FORCES,} 

No.  — .        )        CHARLESTON,  S.  C.,  December  18,  i86i.f 

General  D.  S.  Done/son,  Commanding  Third  Brigade  Ten- 
nessee Volunteers — General: — The  general  commanding  desires 
that  you  should  proceed  with  jour  brigade  to  Coosawhatchie,  S. 
C.,  as  soon  as  the  quarter-master  of  this  place  (Major  H.  Lee) 
can  furnish  you  with  the  necessary  transportation.  Directions 
have  already  been  given  to  him  to  that  effect. 

Very  respectfully,  T.  A.  WASHINGTON, 

Assistant  Adjutant -general. 

On  the  evening  of  the  iSth,  the  troops  took  the  cars 
on  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad.  The  Eighth 
Tennessee  and  Colonel  Starke's  Virginia  regiment  were 
encamped  near  the  bridge  over  the  Salkehatchie,  and 
the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  encamped  at  Old 
Pocotaligo,  about  six  miles  east  of  Coosawhatchie,  and 
two  miles  south  of  Pocotaligo  station.  The  Federals 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  59 

were  threatening  the  interior  from  Port  Royal  ferry, 
also  from  Mackey's  point,  Page's  point,  and  Cunning- 
ham's bluff.  From  each  of  those  different  landings  the 
roads  went  to  the  interior  and  came  together  near  Po- 
cotaligo.  It  was  necessary  to  place  the  main  force  at 
this  point  as  a  reserve  to  be  used  against  any  demon- 
stration of  the  enemy  from  either  of  these  points.  The 
enemy  was  in  possession  of  Beaufort  Island,  and  could 
land  at  any  of  the  above  landings  at  any  time.  •  This 
part  of  the  coast  defenses  was  embraced  in  the  Fourth 
Military  District,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Major- 
general  John  C.  Pemberton.  General  Donelson's  bri- 
gade was  assigned  to  General  Pemberton's  command 
by  virtue  of  the  following  order  from  General  Lee: 

General  Orderj      HEAD-QUARTERS,  COOSAWHATCHIE,  S.  C.,) 
No.  — .        f  December  23,  1861.) 

Brigadier-general  D.  S.  Donelson,  commanding  Tennessee 
Brigade,  and  Colonel  W.  E.  Starke,  commanding  Sixtieth  Regi- 
ment Virginia  Volunteers,  will  report  their  commands  to  Briga- 
dier-general Pemberton  for  duty  in  the  Fourth  Military  District  of 
South  Carolina.  By  order  of  General  Lee. 

T.  A.  WASHINGTON,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

As  Port  Royal  ferry  seemed  to  be  the  most  threat- 
ened, a  fortification  was  thrown  up  at  that  point,  where 
there  was  an  old  fort  of  1812,  and  a  battery  was  planted. 
The  troops  stationed  at  this  point  were  Colonel  Dun- 
novant's  Twelfth  Regiment  of  South  Carolina  Volun- 
teers, the  Fourteenth  South  Carolina  Regiment,  Colo- 
nel James  Jones,  Colonel  Martin's  regiment  of  cavalry, 
and  a  battery  of  Virginia  artillery  under  Captain  Leak. 
Colonel  Jones  being  the  senior  officer  was  in  command 
of  the  forces  in  that  quarter. 

On  the  morning  of  January  i,  1862,  the  Federal  gun- 
boats appeared  at  Port  Royal  ferry,  near  the  mouth  of 


60  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

the  Coosaw  river,  and  commenced  shelling  the  Confed- 
erate works  at  a  furious  rate.  The  Federal  fleet  con- 
sisted of  five  gun-boats  sent  out  by  Admiral  Dupont, 
and  placed  under  command  of  Captain  Rodgers,  of  the 
United  States  Navy.  The  land  force  consisted  of  Ste- 
phen's brigade  and  the  Forty-seventh  and  Forty-eighth 
New  York  Regiments  of  General  Viele's  brigade.  The 
troops  were  landed  under  cover  of  a  tremendous  bom- 
bai'dment.  The  Federal  gun-boats  threw  thirteen-inch 
shells  into  the  Confederate  lines  with  remarkable  pre- 
cision, and  the  Confederates  suffered  principally  from 
this  source.  One  shell  exploded  in  the  ranks  of  a 
South  Carolina  regiment  and  killed  seven  men  and 
wounded  six  more.  The  cannonading  was  kept  up 
some  time  before  the  Federals  landed  their  troops. 
The  object  of  the  Federals  was  to  destroy  the  Confed- 
erate works  at  Port  Royal  ferry,  and  to  collect  the 
stock  from  the  neighboring  plantations. 

The  Federal  force  that  landed  consisted  of  about 
three  thousand  troops  and  a  twelve-pound  howitzer, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Upshur.  The  South 
Carolina  troops  under  Colonel  Jones  had  every  thing 
in  readiness  to  receive  them  when  they  landed.  A 
brisk  engagement  ensued.  The  Confederates  held 
their  ground  bravely  till  two  o'clock,  when  General 
Pemberton  ordered  General  Donelson  to  hasten  with 
his  command  to  the  relief  of  Colonel  Jones.  The  Eighth, 
being  nearest,  arrived  on  the  ground  about  four  o'clock. 
The  Sixteenth,  being  farthest,  was  put  in  motion  with- 
in fifteen  minutes  after  the  order  was  received,  and 
hurried  forward.  Ammunition  was  given  to  the  men 
when  in  the  act  of  starting,  and  the  column  moved  on 
at  a  double-quick.  It  was  near  ten  miles  to  Port  Royal 
ferry.  The  Sixteenth  Regiment  arrived  at  Gardner's 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  61 

Corner  about  dark,  where  the  wounded  were  being 
brought  from  the  field.  The  groans  and  shrieks  of  the 
suffering  men  were  distressing.  The  wounds  had 
been  inflicted  principally  with  shells,  and  the  men  were 
mangled  in  a  terrible  manner. 

The  Confederates  had  fallen  back,  and  having  es- 
tablished their  lines  near  Gardner's  Corner,  remained 
there  during  the  night.  Colonel  Savage  had  placed 
his  regiment  in  line  in  front  of  Gardner's  Corner,  in  the 
edge  of  a  cotton-field,  at  right  angles  to  the  Port  Royal 
road. 

Everybody  expected  the  enemy  to  advance  in  the 
morning.  Donelson's  brigade  of  Tennessee  troops  and 
General  Maxey  Gregg's  brigade  of  South  Carolina 
troops  had  now  arrived,  and  every  thing  was  in  readi- 
ness for  a  general  engagement,  with  some  show  for 
the  Confederates,  as  they  had  reinforced  and  with- 
drawn beyond  range  of  the  Federal  gun-boats. 

On  the  morning  of  January  2,  the  men  were  in  line 
awaiting  the  attack,  but  no  enemy  appeared.  General 
Pemberton  ordered  Colonel  Savage  to  make  a  recon- 
noissance  with  his  regiment  and  ascertain,  if  possible, 
the  true  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  report 
to  him  the  result.  It  was  intended  to  give  the  enemy 
battle  if  he  was  found,  and  every  arrangement  was 
made  accordingly. .  On  the  evening  of  the  ad,  Colonel 
Savage,  having  placed  a  portion  of  his  regiment  on 
either  side  of  the  causeway,  and  with  a  detachment  of 
picked  men  in  front,  he  advanced  cautiously  with  the 
advance-guard,  the  regiment  following. 

It  was  the  general  impression  that  the  enemy  was  in 
our  immediate  front,  and  General  Donelson  and  Major 
Waddy,  of  General  Pemberton's  staff,  were  each  of 
that  opinion,  and  wanted  to  report  accordingly  to  Gen- 


62  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

eral  Pemberton.  Colonel  Savage  insisted  on  a  more 
careful  and  extensive  reconnoissance  before  reporting, 
and  his  counsel  prevailed.  It  was  found  that  the 
South  Carolina  troops  had  been  deceived  by  appear- 
ances. It  was  late  in  the  evening,  and  objects  in  the 
distance  had  been  mistaken  for  Yankees.  Colonel 
Savage  pressed  the  reconnoissance  carefully  till  he  ar- 
rived within  a  short  distance  of  the  old  fort.  Privates 
G.  L.  Freeman  and  Isaac  Mercer  went  on  in  advance 
of  the  detachment  to  the  river  and  found  no  enemy. 
The  Confederates  withdrew  about  four  miles  to  a  point 
where  the  Mackey's  point  road  intersected  with  the 
Port  Royal  road  and  formed  line  of  battle. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  it  was  found  that  the  ene- 
my had  returned  to  their  shipping,  and  the  fleet  had 
departed  in  the  direction  of  Page's  point.  The  Con- 
federates remained  here  three  or  four  days  in  line  of 
battle,  but  seeing  no  appearance  of  a  contemplated  at- 
tack from  the  Federals  each  command  was  ordered  to 
its  original  encampment. 

The  battle  of  Coosaw  river,  or  Port  Royal  ferry,  was 
the  only  engagement  on  the  Carolina  coast  during  the 
winter  after  January  i.  The  Federal  loss  was  fifteen 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  Confederate 
loss  was  thirty-two,  of  whom  nine  men  were  killed 
and  twenty-three  wounded. 

Matters  were  quiet  all  along  the  coast  during  the  rest 
of  the  winter.  The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  enjoyed  the 
delightful  climate  of  South  Carolina  in  every  way. 
Supplies  were  plentiful,  and  the  boys  found  that  their 
task  was  easy.  The  regiment  was  divided  into  detach- 
ments much  of  its  time,  and  placed  on  guard  at  differ- 
ent points  of  the  coast  near  Pocotaligo. 

Early  in  March  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Graham- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  63 

ville,  S.  C.,  -where  it  was  quartered  in  snug  cabins  and 
fared  sumptuously.  While  here  a  number  of  the  boys 
re-enlisted  and  formed  a  cavalry  company  by  authority 
of  General  Pemberton.  Captain  P.  H.  McBride  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  company,  and  the  members 
were  allowed  a  furlough  to  go  home  and  prepare  their 
equipments.  The  regiment  remained  at  Grahamville 
till  after  the  great  battle  of  Shiloh  had  been  fought,  when 
they  were  sent  to  Corinth  by  order  of  General  Lee, 
who  had  now  been  made  commander-in-chief  of  all  the 
armies  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  army  of  General  Johnson  had  been  forced  to 
withdraw  from  Kentucky  and  the  greater  part  of  Ten- 
nessee after  the  Confederate  reverses  at  Fort  Donelson. 
The  fall  of  Forts  Donelson  and  Henry  was  an  unfort- 
unate blow  upon  the  Confederacy,  and  practically 
broke  the  backbone  of  its  main  defenses.  The  great 
Mississippi  valley  was  the  main  dependence  she  had 
for  supplies  of  every  kind,  and  this  defeat  placed  the 
main  river  system  of  the  valley  in  the  hands  of  the 
Federals.  The  western  army  had  fallen  back  to  Cor- 
inth, and  the  Federals  thus  came  into  possession  of  the 
great  States  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  the 
greater  portion  of  Missouri. 

General  Johnston's  lines  now  covered  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  Railroad  from  the  Tennessee  river  to 
Memphis,  and  the  defenses  at  Island  Number  Ten  cov- 
ered Memphis  from  the  approaches  of  the  Federal 
gun-boats.  General  Johnston  resolved  to  put  his  army 
in  shape  for  a  decisive  battle  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Tennessee  river.  General  Grant  was  in  command  of 
the  Federal  forces  at  Savannah,  on  the  Tennessee  river, 
and  Buell  was  in  command  of  the  forces  about  Nash- 
ville. Johnston  determined  to  hurl  his  whole  army 


64  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

upon  Grant  and  defeat  him  before  Buell  could  come  to 
his  support.  By  the  first  of  April  his  plans  were  fully 
matured  and  every  thing  in  readiness  for  the  campaign. 
The  roads  being  in  bad  condition  he  was  unable  to  ad- 
vance his  army  as  rapidly  as  his  plans  contemplated. 
It  was  his  intention  to  strike  Grant  on  April  5,  but  the 
.-  movement  was  hindered  on  account  of  bad  roads,  and 
the  enemy  used  the  delay  to  advantage.  Buell  was  or- 
dered to  Grant's  support  in  anticipation  of  Johnston's 
intentions.  Grant  was  not  expecting  Johnston  to  at- 
tack him  so  soon,  and  before  he  was  aware  of  the  ma- 
tured plans  and  prompt  executive  ability  of  the  Con- 
federate leader,  Johnston  was  upon  him  on  the  morning 
of  April  6,  1862.  The  Confederates  took  possession  of 
the  Federal  encampment,  and  drove  the  enemy  before 
them  for  some  distance.  By  this  time  Grant  had  time 
to  realize  the  situation,  and  his  line  was  formed  for  bat- 
tle with  the  intention  of  a  stubborn  resistance.  The 
Confederates  pressed  onward,  and  struck  Grant's  sec- 
ond line  at  Shiloh  church,  and  the  battle  became  des- 
perate. The  Federals  finally  yielded  this  line,  and  the 
Confederates  pressed  on  to  victory.  The  fight  lasted 
throughout  the  day,  and  the  Federals  had  been  driven 
back  at  every  point. 

Late  in  the  evening  the  Federals  took  another  stand, 
and  Johnston  ordered  another  charge,  after  massing  his 
force  at  that  point  of  the  enemy's  line  which  he  con- 
sidered the  key  to  the  position.  The  gallant  Confede- 
'rate  chieftain  led  the  charge  in  person.  The  lines  of 
the  enemy  were  broken,  and  the  Confederates  had 
gained  a  decisive  victory.  The  Federals  were  driven 
to  the  river  bank,  and  to  have  pressed  them  farther* 
would  have  resulted  in  their  capture.  This  was  the  re- 
sult contemplated  by  General  Johnston,  but  he  did  not 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  65 

live  to  execute*  it.  He  fell,  mortally  wounded,  while 
leading  the  charge  that  procured  the  victory,  and  at  the 
very  moment  of  its  consummation.  The  men  were 
discouraged  and  dejected  when  they. learned  that  their 
leader  had  fallen.  General  Beauregard  now  assumed 
command.  Night  closed  its  mantle  over  the  scene,  and 
the  fighting  ceased. 

During  the  night  Buell's  army  came  up  and  formed 
a  junction  with  Grant's  forces,  and  in  the  morning  the 
Federals  came  out  in  the  aggressive.  The  Confederates 
were  now  on  the  defensive,  and  were  confronted  by  an 
enemy  of  fresh  troops  and  their  superior  in  point  of 
numbers.  The  battle  of  the  yth  was  over  much  of  the 
same  ground  of  the  6th,  but  with  its  fortunes  reversed. 
The  Confederates  gradually  gave  back,  from  position 
to  position,  as  the  Federals  had  done  on  the  day  pre- 
vious. In  the  afternoon  of  the  yth,  Beauregard  with- 
drew his  entire  force  from  the  field  in  good  order,  and 
retreated  ba'ck  to  Corinth.  The  losses  on  both  sides 
had  been  very  great. 

General  Beauregard  saw  the  tremendous  force  that 
was  being  arrayed  against  him,  and  found,  after  his  ar- 
rival at  Corinth,  that  with  his  army  of  thirty-five  thou- 
sand he  was  wholly  unable  to  cope  with  the  concen- 
trated hosts  of  the  enemy,  and  realized  that  unless  he 
was  promptly  reinforced  he  would  be  compelled  to 
yield  the  great  Mississippi  Valley  to  the  enemy,  which 
would  be  practically  surrendering  the  cause.  He  ac- 
cordingly asked  the  Confederate  authorities  to  reinforce 
him  from  Pemberton's  army,  of  South  Carolina,  and 
.Van  Dorn's  and  Price's  armies,  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
^Department.  He  sent  the  following  telegram  to  Rich- 
mond in  cipher,  which  appeared  in  the  Northern  pa- 
pers verbatim  on  the  following  morning.  The  mystery 
5 


66  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

was  explained  when  the  Richmond  authorities  ascer- 
tained that  this  dispatch  had  also  been  sent,  in  common 
language,  by  our  army  correspondent,  by  way  of  Hunts- 
ville,  where  it  was  taken  off  the  wires  by  a  spy. 

CORINTH,  Miss.,  April  9,  1862. 

General  S.  Cooper,  Richmond,  Va.: — All  present  probabili- 
ties are  that  whenever  the  enemy  moves  on  this  position  he  will 
do  so  with  an  overwhelming  force  of  not  less  than  eighty  thou- 
sand men.  We  now  number  only  about  thirty-five  thousand  ef- 
fectives. Van  Dorn  may  possibly  join  us  in  a  few  days  with 
about  fifteen  thousand  more.  Can  we  not  be  reinforced  from 
Pemberton's  army?  If  defeated  here  we  lose  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  probably  our  cause,  whereas  we  could  afford  to  lose 
Charleston  and  Savannah  for  the  purpose  of  defeating  Buell's 
armv,  which  would  not  only  insure  us  the  vallev  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, but  our  independence.  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

Upon  the  reception  of  General  Beauregard's  dispatch 
General  Lee  sent  the  following  to  General  Pemberton: 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  April  10,  1862. 

Major-general  Pemberton : — Beauregard  is  pressed  for  troops. 
Send  him,  if  possible,  Donelson's  brigade  of  two  regiments.  If 
Mississippi  Valley  is  lost  the  Atlantic  States  will  be  ruined. 

Very  respectfully,  R.  E.  LEE. 

To  this  General  Pemberton  replied  as  follows: 

POCOTALIGO,  S.  C.,  April  10,  1862,  6:30  P.M. 
General  R.  E.  Lee,  Richmond,  Va.: — Your  telegram  just  re- 
ceived. I  consider  it  an  order.  Donelson's  brigade — two  Ten- 
nessee regiments,  aggregating  fifteen  hundred  and  seventy-two 
— will  move  to  Corinth  as  soon  as  transportation  can  be  got 
ready.  J.  C.  PEMBERTON,  Major-general  Commanding. 

General  Pemberton  sent  the  following  order  to  Gen- 
eral Ripley: 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  April  13,  1862. 

General  R.  S.  Ripley: — Order  the  troops  to  take  the  most  di- 
rect and  practicable  route  to  Corinth.  Let  the  commander  tele- 
graph to  General  Beauregard  in  advance  for  his  instructions. 

J.  C.  PEMBERTON,  Major-general. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  67 

General  Beauregard  telegraphed  for  the  troops  to  be 
sent  by  way  of  Chattanooga,  and  they  were  hurried  on 
as  fast  as  possible  by  way  of  Charleston,  Augusta,  and 
Atlanta.  The  Federals  had  taken  possession  of  Hunts- 
ville  about  the  time  that  the  troops  were  getting  to 
Chattanooga  on  their  way  to  Corinth,  and  they  were 
forced  to  go  back  by  way  of  Mobile,  and  did  not  arrive 
at  Corinth  until  April  23,  1862. 


CAMPAIGN  IN  MISSISSIPPI. 

When  the  Tennessee  troops  arrived  at  Corinth  they 
found  every  thing  presenting  the  true  aspect  of  war  in 
its  fullest  sense.  The  whole  country  about  the  place 
was  one  vast  encampment  of  troops.  The  wounded 
from  the -great  battle  had  been  sent  to  the  interior 
towns  and  villages  along  the  railroad,  while  the  conva- 
lescent were  with  their  commands  in  camp.  The  boys 
of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  went  to  see  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances belonging  to  the  Fifth  and  other  Tennessee 
regiments,  and  mingled  among  their  old  comrades  and 
acquaintances  generally  for  a  few  days  after  their  arri- 
val at  Corinth.  The  Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Tennessee 
Regiments  remained  a  part  of  Donelson's  brigade, 
which  was  'assigned  to  Cheatham's  division,  and  be- 
came a  part  of  the  first  army  corps  under  command  of 
Lieutenant-general  Polk. 

The  army  of  General  Halleck  now  numbered  about 
one  hundred  thousand  men,  not  including  the  fleet  in 
the  Mississippi  river.  The  army  of  General  Beaure- 
gard, including  the  river  defenses,  was  now  near  the 
equal  of  the  enemy  in  the  field  in  point  of  numbers, 
but  the  inferior  in  point  of  equipments. 


68  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

By  May  i,  Beauregard  had  been  reinforced  by  Van 
Dorn's  forces  from  Missouri  and  four  regiments  from 
Pemberton's  army.  His  forces  now  numbered  as  fol- 
lows: 

Folk's  corps,  17,185;  Bragg's  corps,  23,100;  Har- 
dee's  corps,  15,937;  cavalry  and  artillery,  13,318;  Army 
of  the  West,  34,035;  Villepigue's  division,  4,173;  re- 
serve, 7,121.  Total,  114,869. 

This  number  included  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
hospital,  and  the  absent  for  any  cause.  By  the  transfer 
of  some  of  the  troops,  and  by  deaths,  this  estimate  was 
reduced  by  May  15,  1862,  to  110,845  total  present  and 
absent.  The  large  number  of  sick  and  wounded  at  the 
different  hospitals  reduced  this  number  to  an  aggregate 
of  74,279  present,  including  sick  and  wounded  in  camp, 
the  different  details  for  sappers. and  miners,  infirmary 
corps,  and  other  purposes.  The  aggregate  was  reduced 
in  this  manner  to  an  effective  total  of  51,218  guns 
ready  for  action  on  May  15,"  viz.:  Army  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, 35,705;  Army  of  the  West,  12,801;  Western  De- 
partment, 2,612.  Effective  total,  51,218. 

With  this  force  Beauregard  felt  prepared  to  give 
battle  to  Halleck,  who  was  advancing  on  the  Purdy 
road.  A  line  of  breastworks  were  thrown  up  a  few 
miles  in  front  of  Corinth,  and  the  troops  were  em- 
ployed daily  in  strengthening  the  defenses  and  cover- 
ing the  front  of  their  works  with  abatis  of  fallen 
trees.  Van  Dorn  occupied  the  right  wing  of  Beaure- 
gard's  lines,  near  the  Farmington  road.  Hardee's 
corps  occupied  the  center,  and  Folk's  corps  was  on  the 
left  wing.  Every  thing  was  put  in  readiness  and  wait- 
ing for  the  attack,  which  seemed  imminent.  General 
Price  seemed  to  grow  impatient  for  the  attack,  and 
moving  out  his  division  one  morning  struck  the  enemy's 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  69 

left  wing  and  swung  it  round  on  their  main  line  and 
then  retired  to  his  original  position.  The  old  hero  of 
so  many  hard-fought  battles  kept  up  a  row  with  Hal- 
leek's  left  wing  pretty  regularly.  The  principal  fight- 
ing about  Corinth  was  on  the  right  wing  of  Beaure- 
gard's  lines,  while  the  enemy  seemed  to  be  seeking  an 
advantage  with  a  view  to  striking  the  Confederate  rear 
and  taking  possession  of  Chewalla,  a  point  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  a  few  miles  south 
of  Corinth.  As  the  Federals  moved  on  Corinth  and 
established  their  lines,  they  threw  up  fortifications  at 
each  line. 

The  battle  being  daily  and  almost  houi'ly  expected, 
and  General  Beauregard  having  arranged  his  lines  and 
fortified  his  position,  had  every  thing  in  readiness  for 
the  conflict,  and  issued  the  following  address  to  his 

men : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  THE  FORCES,     j 
CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  2,  1862. f 

Soldiers  of  ShiloJi  and  Elkhorn : — We  are  about  to  meet  once 
more  in  the  shock  of  battle  the  invaders  of  our  soil,  the  despoil  - 
ers  of  our  homes,  the  disturbers  of  our  family  ties.  Face  to  face, 
hand  to  hand,  we  are  to  decide  whether  we  are  to  be  freemen  or 
the  vile  slaves  of  those  who  are  free  only  in  name,  and  who  but 
yesterday  were  vanquished,  although  in  largely  superior  numbers 
in  their  own  encampments,  on  the  ever-memorable  field  of  Shiloh. 

Let  the  impending  battle  decide  our  fate,  and  add  one  more 
illustrious  page  to  the  historv  of  our  revolution — one  to  which  our 
children  will  point  with  noble  pride,  saying,  "Our  fathers  were 
at  the  battle  of  Corinth!" 

I  congratulate  you  on  your  timely  junction — your  mingled 
banners!  For  the  first  time  in  this  war  we  shall  meet  our  foe  in 
strength  that  should  give  us  victory.  Soldiers,  can  the  result  be 
doubted?  Shall  we  not  drive  back  into  the  Tennessee  the  pre- 
sumptuous mercenaries  collected  for  our  subjugation?  One  more 
manly  effort,  and  trusting  in  God  and  the  justness  of  our  cause, 
we  shall  recover  more  than  we  have  latelv  lost.  Let  the  sound 


70  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

of  our  victorious  guns   be  re-echoed   by  those  of  the  Army  of 
Virginia  on  the  historic  battle-field  of  Yorktown. 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  General  Commanding. 

General  Bragg  issued  the  following  address  to  the 
soldiers  of  his  command,  the  Second  Corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  Mississippi: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  SECOND  CORPS,         '   \ 
ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 
CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  3,  1862.) 

Soldiers: — You  are  again  about  to  encounter  the  mercenary 
invader  who  pollutes  the  sacred  soil  of  our  beloved  country. 
Severely  punished  by  you,  and  driven  from  his  chosen  position, 
with  the  loss  of  his  artillery  and  his  honor,  at  Shiloh,  when 
double  your  numbers,  he  now  approaches  cautiouslv  and  timidlv, 
unwilling  to  advance,  unable  to  retreat.  Could  his  rank  and  file 
enjoy  a  freeman's  right,  not  one  would  remain  within  our  limits, 
but  are  goaded  on  by  a  tyrant's  lash — by  desperate  leaders 
whose  only  safety  lies  in  success.  Such  a  foe  ought  never  to 
conquer  freemen  battling  on  their  own  soil.  You  will  encounter 
him  in  your  chosen  position,  strong  by  nature  and  improved  by 
art;  away  from  his  main  support  and  reliance: — gun-boats  and 
heavy  batteries — and  for  the  first  time  in  this  war,  with  nearly 
equal  numbers. 

The  slight  reverses  we  have  met  on  the  sea-board  have  worked 
us  good  as  well  as  evil.  The  brave  troops  so  long  retained  there 
have  hastened  to  swell  your  numbers,  while  the  gallant  Van 
Dorn  and  invincible  Price  are  now  in  your  midst,  with  numbers 
almost  equaling  the  "Army  of  Shiloh."  We  have,  then,  but  to 
strike  and  destroy,  and  as  the  enemy's  whole  resources  are  con- 
centrated here,  we  shall  not  only  redeem  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
and  Missouri  at  one  blow,  but  open  the  portals  of  the  whole 
North-west.  BRAXTON  BRAGG, 

General  Commanding  Second  Corps. 

The  enemy  continued  to  advance  slowly  and  cau- 
tiously, fortifying  every  line  of  his  advancement.  Gen- 
eral Beauregard,  finding  that  Halleck  would  not  bring 
on  an  engagement  by  attacking  the  Confederates  in 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  71 

their  chosen  position,  finally  resolved  to  move  out  of 
his  works  and  advance  on  the  Federal  lines,  having 
waited  for  his  attack  in  vain  for  several  days.  Every 
thing  was  in  readiness  for  the  movement  by  May  20, 
when  the  following  order  was  issued  by  General  Beau- 
regard  : 

^  HEAD-QUARTERS  WESTERN 

General  Orders  DEPARTMENT, 

CORINTH,  May  20,  1862. 
In   the   event  of  a  battle,   the    following    regulations  will    be 
strictly  observed  by  all  medical  officers  of  this  department,  with 
the  view  of  affording  the  greatest  comfort  to  the  sick  and  wounded 
of  the  army: 

1.  All  the  wounded  not  requiring  surgical  operations  will  be 
carried  to  their  respective  encampments,  whence  such  cases  as 
will  bear  removal  will  be  subsequently  distributed  among  the 
various  hospitals  in  the  interior  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
medical  inspectors. 

2.  Such  of  the  wounded  as  will  not  bear  transportation  will  be 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  this  point,  or?  the  order  of  the  division  sur- 
geon. 

3.  Cases  requiring  immediate  surgical  operation  will  be  treated 
as  far  as  possible  on  the  field,  and  all  such  will  be  sent  immedi- 
ately to  the  hospital  at  this  place. 

By  command  of  General  Beauregard. 

GEO.  W.  BRENT,  Acting-  Chief  of  Staff. 

General  Bragg  issued  the  following  order  to  his 
corps: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,! 
CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  20,  1862.      / 

As  soon  as  the  movement  against  the  enemy  takes  place,  Colo- 
nel D.  W.  Adams,  First  Regiment  Louisiana  Infantry,  will  as- 
sume command  of  that  portion  of  the  army  left  to  guard  the 
trenches.  By  command  of  General  Bragg. 

GEO.  G.  GARNER,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

The  men  were  ordered  to  prepare  three  days'  cooked 
rations  for  their  haversacks,  and  the  wagons  were  to 


72  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

carry  two  days'  supply  of  uncooked  rations.  Forty 
rounds  of  ammunition  was  given  for  each  gun,  and 
the  ordinance  supplies  were  to  be  kept  at  a'convenient 
distance  for  additional  supply  if  needed.  Every  thing 
was  in  readiness  on  the  2Oth  for  a  general  movement 
on  the  2 1  st. 

On  account  of  the  rains  on  the  morning  of  the  2ist, 
the  movement  was  suspended  for  twenty-four  hours. 
The  rain  ceasing  and  the  weather  clearing  up  in  the 
morning,  the  whole  army  was  put  in  shape  for  a  move- 
ment on  the  following  day.  Colonel  Savage  made  a 
stirring,  patriotic  speech  to  his  regiment  on  the  evening 
of  the  2ist,  and  by  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
22d  the  whole  army  was  in  line.  General  Donelson 
addressed  his  brigade  in  line  by  regiments.  He  told 
in  eloquent  tones  of  the  bright  escutcheon  of  Tennes- 
see fame  on  so  many  hard  fought  battle-fields  in  this 
and  previous  wars,  wjiere  the  Tennessee  troops  had 
acted  their  part  so  nobly,  and  that  in  the  arduous  task 
before  them  to  be  performed  this  day,  wrhen  the  enemy 
was  to  be  attacked  in  superior  numbers  and  in  a  posi- 
tion of  his  own  choosing,  he  had  the  fullest  confidence 
in  the  valor  of  the  Tennessee  troops,  and  he  knew  that 
they  would,  by  their  noble  achievements,  add  new 
luster  to  the  lofty  name  that  their  State  so  justly  and 
proudly  bore.  The  enemy  must  be  driven  back.  His 
heavy  batteries  must  be  charged  and  his  guns  taken. 
They  were  fighting  for  their  homes  and  all  they  held 
dear,  which  they  would  wrest  from  the  hand  of  the  in- 
vader, but  it  was  a  work  that  would  involve  much  sac- 
rifice and  the  loss  of  many  lives.  The  Tennessee  troops 
would  do  their  part  well,  and  "  strike  where  danger  was 
thickest."  This  stirring  address  was  delivered  to  the 
regiment  in  double  column  by  the  General,  who  rode 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  73 

along  the  front  line  as  he  spoke.  The  men  responded 
with  loud  and  prolonged  cheers,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  whole  column  was  moving  to  the  front. 

As  before  stated,  Folk's  corps  occupied  the  left  of 
Beauregard's  lines,  and  the  enemy  was  making  his 
principal  demonstrations  on  the  right  and  center,  in 
front  of  Van  Dorn's,  Bragg's,  and  Hardee's  corps.  It 
was  near  six  miles  from  Folk's  position  to  the  point  of 
the  enemy's  line  where  he  was  expected  to  strike. 
Polk,  Hardee,  and  Bragg  gained  their  positions 
promptly  and  waited  for  Van  Dorn  to  come  up,  when 
a  signal  would  be  given  for  a  general  attack. 

Beauregard's  army  was  about  fifty  thousand  effective 
men,  and  the  enemy  was  about  eighty  thousand.  The 
opposing  armies  were  looking  at  each  other,  both  ready 
for  the  awful  work  of  death.  On  account  of  the  to- 
pography of  the  country,  Van  Dorn  was  delayed  in 
bringing  up  his  command,  and  meeting  with  unforeseen 
obstacles,  he  consulted  Generals  Price  and  Hardee  in 
reference  to  the  difficulties  before  him,  and  at  noon  dis- 
patched to  Beauregard  as  follows: 

HEAD-qCARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE   WEST,! 

May  22,  1862.      / 

General: — It  pains  me  to  say. that  I  have,  after  consultation 
with  Generals  Hardee  and  Price,  determined  to  return  to  my  in- 
trenchments.  I  have  found  unexpected  obstacles,  topographical 
and  otherwise,  and  I  have  been  delayed  until  this  hour  (12  M.), 
and  yet  not  in  position.  It  is  too  late  to  begin  a  general  engage- 
ment, and  I  cannot  wait  to  hear  from  you  to  get  orders.  I  have, 
therefore,  determined  to  act  myself  and  return.  I  will  explain 
more  fully  when  I  see  you.  EARL  VAX  DORX. 

When  General  Beauregard  received  this  dispatch  he 
indorsed  it  with  his  approval  and  returned  it  to  Gen- 
eral Van  Dorn.  He  then  gave  orders  to  the  corps 
commanders  to  withdraw  their  commands  to  their  in- 


74  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

trenchments,  and  before  sundown  the  whole  army  was 
in  its  original  encampment  along  the  trenches.  Not  a 
gun  had  been  fired,  and  every  thing  was  quiet. 

The  Confederates  resumed  their  position  in  the  forti- 
fications before  Corinth,  and  prepared  for  repelling  an 
attack  by  strengthening  their  works  and  felling  the  tim- 
ber in  their  front.  The  Federals  crept  on  slowly  and  for- 
tified every  line  of  their  advancement.  Daily  the  line 
of  Federal  intrenchments  drew  nearer  the  place  until 
the  27th,  when  they  had  their  batteries  planted  and 
their  lines  fortified  within  cannon  shot  of  Beauregarfl's 
lines.  For  miles  to  the  Federal  rear  the  country  was 
one  series  of  parallel  intrenchments. 

The  enemy  had  gathered  principally  on  the  east  of 
the  railroad,  and  every  thing  gave  evidence  that  he 
did  not  meditate  an  attack  upon  Corinth,  but  a  regular 
bombardment  and  siege.  General  Beauregard's  com- 
munications were  severely  threatened  on  the  right, 
where  the  enemy  seemed  determined  to  extend  his 
fortified  lines,  and  thus  cut  off  supplies  by  railroad. 
To  counteract  these  demonstrations,  General  Price, 
of  Van  Dorn's  army,  kept  Halleck's  left  wing  busy. 
There  was  no  difficulty  in  getting  up  a  fight  in  front 
of  Price's  division.  If  the  enemy  came  around  too 
presumptuously  he  was  sure  of  a  warm  reception, 
for  Price  always  accepted  any  thing  in  the  way  of  a 
challenge.  In  the  different  sorties  on  the  right  the 
enemy  was  driven  back  in  the  first  stages  of  the  siege, 
and  on  one  occasion  Price  took  possession  of  the  ene- 
my's telegraph  office  and  telegraphed  his  compliments 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

By  May  25  the  forces  of  the  enemy  had  thickened 
on  the  right  and  had  gained  so  strong  a  foothold  that 
Van  Dorn  was  unable  to  dislodge  him.  His  lines  of 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  75 

intrenchments  drew  nearer  and  nearer.  The  Confed- 
erates were  now  completely  on  the  defensive,  with 
every  resource  taxed  to  the  utmost.  The  lines  of  the 
enemy  had  been  re-enforced,  and  the  fall  of  Corinth 
seemed  only  a  question  of  time.  The  commander  in 
chief  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  One  of  three 
things  must  be  promptly  done:  the  Confederates  must 
attack  the  enemy,  or  be  attacked  by  him,  or  evacuate 
the  place.  This  was  the  nature  of  the  situation  as 
viewed  bv  the  corps  commanders  of  the  army,  and  as 
the  first  two  propositions  involved  serious  difficulties, 
the  latter  expedient  was  suggested  by  General  Hardee, 
and  the  various  reasons  explained  in  the  following 
communication  to  General  Beauregard: 

CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  25,  1862. 

General  G.  T.  Beaurcgard,  Commanding,  etc.: — The  situa- 
tion at  Corinth  requires  that  we  should  attack  the  enemy  at 
once,  await  his  attack,  or  evacuate  the  place. 

Assuming  that  we  have  50,000  men  and  the  enemy  nearly  twice 
that  number,  protected  by  intrenchments,  I  am  clearly  of  opin- 
ion that  no  attack  should  be  made.  Our  forces  are  inferior,  and 
the  battle  of  Shiloh  proves,  with  only  the  advantage  of  position, 
it  was  hazardous  to  contend  against  his  superior  strength;  and 
to  attack  him  in  his  intrenchments  now  would  probably  inflict  on 
us  and  the  Confederacy  a  fatal  blow.  Neither  the  numbers  nor 
the  instruction  of  our  troops  renders  them  equal  to  the  task. 

I  think  we  can  successfully  repel  any  attack  on  our  camp  by 
the  enemy,  but  it  is  manifest  no  attack  is  meditated.  It  will  be 
approached  gradually,  and  will  be  shelled  and  bombarded,  with- 
out equal  means  to  respond.  This  will  compel  us  to  make  sorties 
against  his  intrenched  positions,  under  most  adverse  circum- 
stances, or  to  evacuate  the  place.  The  latter  seems  to  me  inev- 
itable. If  so,  the  only  remaining  question  is  whether  the  place 
should  be  evacuated  before,  after,  or  during  the  defense.  After 
fire  is  opened,  or  the  place  is  actively  shelled  or  bombarded,  or 
during  such  an  attack,  it  will  be  difficult  to  evacuate  the  place  in 


76  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

good  order.  With  a  large  body  of  men  imperfectly  disciplined 
any  idle  rumor  may  spread  a  panic,  and  inextricable  confusion 
may  follow,  so  that  the  retreat  may  become  a  rout.  The  same 
objections  would  applv  to  any  partial  or  feeble  defense  of  the 
place,  and  an  attempt  to  evacuate  it  in  the  meantime.  If  the 
defense  be-not  determined  or  the  battle  decisive,  no  useful  result 
would  follow,  but  it  would  afford  an  opportunity  to  our  enemies 
to  magnify  the  facts — give  them  a  pretext  to  claim  a  victory,  and 
to  discourage  our  friends  at  home  and  abroad,  and  diminish,  if 
not  destroy,  all  claims  of  foreign  intervention. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  think  the  evacuation,  if  it  be  de- 
termined upon,  should  be  made  before  the  enemy  opens  fire,  and 
not  coupled  with  a  sortie  against  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments 
or  partial  battle.  It  should  be  done  promptly,  if  done  at  all. 
Even  now  the  enemy  can  shell  our  camp.  It  should  be  done  in 
good  order,  so  as  not  to  discourage  our  friends  or  give  a  pretext 
for  the  triumph  of  our  enemies. 

With  the  forces  at  our  disposition,  with  a  vast  territory  behind 
us,  with  a  patriotic  and  devoted  people  to  support  us,  the  enemv, 
as  he  moved  southward,  away  from  rivers  and  railroads,  would 
find  insurmountable  obstacles  in  moving  columns  so  heavy  that 
we  cannot  strike  them,  and  over  a  country  where  his  mechanical 
superiority  will  not  avail  him. 

If  we  resolve  to  evacuate,  every  hour  of  delav  onlv  serves  to 
augment  our  difficulties.  The  enemy  every  day  grows  stronger 
on  our  flanks,  and  menaces  more  and  more  our  communications. 
If  he  effects  his  designs,  we  must  fight  at  every  disadvantage  or 
retreat  disastrously.  History  and  the  country  will  judge  us,  not 
by  the  movement,  but  by  its  consequences. 

W.  J.   HARDEE,  Major-general . 

To  which  General  Beauregard  replied  as  follows: 

CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  26,  1862. 

Major-general  W.  J .  Hardee — Dear  General: — I  fully  con- 
cur in  the  views  contained  in  your  letter  of  the  25th  inst,  received 
last  night,  and  I  have  already  commenced  giving  orders  to  my 
chiefs  of  staff  departments  for  its  execution.  But  every  thing 
that  is  done  must  be  done  under  the  plea  of  the  intention  to  take 
the  offensive  at  the  opportune  moment.  Every  commandant  of 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  77 

corps  must  get  every  thing  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice 
and  must  see  to  the  proper  condition  of  the  roads  and  bridges  his 
corps  is  to  travel  upon. 

Thanking  you  for  vour  kind  wishes,  I  remain  yours  truly, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 

On  the  evening  of  May  27,  Donelson's  brigade  was 
placed  on  picket  in  front  of  the  breastworks  on  the 
left  of  General  Hardee's  line.  On  the  morning  of  the 
28th  the  Federals  began  to  press  the  Confederate  out- 
post very  severely,  and  all  indications  were  favorable 
to  a  general  engagement  all  along  the  line.  This  was 
the  first  vigorous  demonstration  of  the  Federals  on  the 
Confederate  left  wing.  The  right  and  center  had 
been  pressed  for  the  last  three  days.  The  enemy 
massed  heavy  columns  in  the  immediate  front  of  the 
Confederate  skirmish  lines,  and  placed  their  artillery 
in  position.  When  this  was  accomplished  they  com- 
menced shelling  the  woods  with  a  view  to  ascertaining 
the  position  of  the  reserve  lines  of  the  Confederates 
and  the  location  of  their  batteries.  The  firing  along 
the  skirmish  line  was  kept  up  with  vigor,  and  the  Fed- 
eral batteries  kept  up  a  general  cannonade  all  day. 
The  Confederate  artillery  kept  silent,  though  placed  in 
a  position  to  be  most  effective  in  the  event  of  an  attack 
from  the"Federals.  The  Federal  batteries  had  learned 
the  position  of  the  Confederate  lines,  and  sent  showers 
of  grape-shot  through  the  woods.  The  men  lay  close 
upon  the  ground,  and  the  enemy's  missiles  passed  over 
them  without  inflicting  any  injury.  The  skirmishing 
continued  throughout  the  day.  The  Sixteenth  Tennes- 
see Regiment  lost  three  men  on  May  28.  Stephen 
Tate,  of  Captain  Womack's  company,  was  killed  on 
the  skirmish  line  in  the  morning.  Sergeant  John  Gris- 
som  and  private  William  Creel}',  both  of  Captain  Ran- 


78  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

dal's  company,  were  killed  by  a  charge  of  grape-shot 
from  a  Federal  battery. 

The  skirmishing  on  the  right  and  center  was  lively 
all  through  the  day.  Hardee's  corps  was  engaged  ii> 
hot  skirmish  righting  all  along  the  line.  General  Cle- 
burn  was  desirous  of  gaining  an  elevated  position  in 
his  immediate  front  known  as  Shelton  Hill.  This  po- 
sition, if  once  gained  and  protected  by  artillery,  would 
add  greatly  to  the  strength  of  the  Confederate*  lines. 
General  Cleburn  ordered  his  men  to  move  upon  this 
point,  which  lay  in  the  immediate  front  of  the  Fifth 
Tennessee  Regiment.  The  way  seemed  open  to  the 
top  of  the  elevation,  and  the  right  and  left  were  flanked 
by  underbrush.  Colonel  B.  J.  Hill  ordered  a  charge, 
and  the  gallant  old  Fifth  raised  the  old  rebel  yell  that 
could  be  heard  for  miles  over  the  din  and  shock  of 
battle.  Colonel  Hill  led  the  charge,  and  his  men  fol- 
lowed with  that  dauntless  valor  that  had  ever  charac- 
terized the  gallant  old  Fifth  and  its  daring  leader.  The 
regiment  was  repulsed  with  a  fearful  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded.  It  was  practically  an  ambuscade.  The 
Federals  occupied  the  hill,  and  their  right  and  left  lines 
diverged  inwardly  in  the  shape  of  a  V,  and  were  con- 
cealed by  a  plum  hedge.  The  Fifth  Tennessee  charged 
into  the  opening,  and  were  subjected  to  a  withering 
cross-fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  on  its  right,  left, 
and  front.  This  was  the  principal  event  of  the  28th  in 
Hardee's  front.  For  this  daring  exploit  at  Shelton  Hill, 
Colonel  Hill  and  his  regiment  were  complimented  by 
•General  Beauregard  in  general  orders  read  to  the  troops 
of  the  whole  army.  On  the  evening  of  the  28th,  the  skir- 
mish lines  were  relieved  by  fresh  troops,  and  the  army 
retired  to  the  trenches.  The  Federals  fortified,  on  the 
night  of  the  28th,  the  ground  they  had  gained  during 
the  day. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  79 

It  was  the  intention  of  General  Beauregard  to  aban- 
don the  trenches  on  the  night  of  the  28th,  and  with- 
draw his  army  from  Corinth  on  the  29th.  General 
Bragg  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  removal  of  stores 
from  Corinth,  and  the  work  progressed  so  slowly  that 
he  suggested  to  General  Beauregard  that  the  place  be 
held  another  day,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  remove 
more  of  the  military  stores.  General  Bragg  about  this 
time  became  commander  in  chief,  and  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  army  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth. 

The  following  correspondence  explains  the  different 
movements  of  the  army  at  this  time: 

CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  28,  1862,  2:30  P.M. 

General: — The  prospect  at  the  railroad  is  not  encouraging. 
Things  move  very  slowly — a  want  of  management  with  the  cars 
as  well  as  the  sick.  The  medical  department  is  now  doing  bet- 
ter, but  I  really  do  not  think  it  possible  to  get  oft"  to-night,  with- 
out abandoning  arms,  ammunition,  baggage,  etc.,  which  we  can- 
not afford  to  lose.  My  baggage  is  gone,  but  I  am  prepared  to 
bivouac  for  one  day  in  order  to  save  what  we  can. 

The  force  crossing  toward  Chewalla  has  retired  again.  The 
firing  is  between  Van  Dorn's  battery  and  the  enemy,  who  are 
trying  to  force  Hardee  back  on  the  lower  Farmington  road. 

Yours  truly,  BRAXTON  BRAGG. 

[Confidential.]  CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  28,  1862. 

General: — Considering  that  we  have  still  so  much  yet  to  be 
removed  from  this  place,  I  have  decided  that  the  retrograde 
movement  shall  not  take  place  until  the  3oth  instead  of  the  2gth. 
You  will  issue  all  necessary  orders  to  that  effect  to  the  forces  un- 
der your  command.  It  would  be  advisable  to  stop  at  once  the  am- 
munition and  provision  trains  at  convenient  points  to  this  place.  • 

Respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUKEGARD,  General  Commanding. 
General  BRAXTON  BRAGG,  Commanding  Army  of  Mississippi, 

Corinth,  Miss. 

The  troops  bivouaced  about  the  trenches  all  day  on 


8o  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT  . 

the  29th.  Every  thing  was  quiet  all  along  the  line. 
Occasionally  the  sound  of  a  cannon  and  a  little  picket 
firing  was  heard.  Generally  a  dull,  foreboding  silence 
rested  over  the  scene.  Every  thing  movable  was  being 
sent  to  the  rear.  General  Bragg  was  at  the  depot  su- 
perintending the  removal  in  person.  During  the  dav 
he  sent  the  following  dispatch  to  General  Beauregard: 

RAILROAD  DEPOT,  May  29,  1862,  11:30  A.M. 

General  Beauregard — Mv  Dear  General: — I  have  found  it 
necessary  to  take  charge  here  personally.  Col.  O.  B.  is  working 
with  me.  It  will  be  impossible  to  save  all.  Army,  ammunition, 
and  the  sick.  I  fear,  will  be  all  we  can  do,  but  hospital  things  and 
provisions  will  be  saved,  if  possible.  I  find  trunks  enough  here 
to  load  all  trains  for  a  day.  They  are  being  piled  for  burning, 
and  great  is  the  consternation.  My  guard  have  to  be  loaded  to 
prevent  plundering,  but  all  is  going  on  well.  If  we  had  trains 
all  could  be  well  by  12  o'clock  to-night,  but  there  is  great  want  of 
cars.  Nothing  in  our  power  will  be  left  undone.  It  is  the  first 
time  I  have  played  chief  quarter-master,  but  it  is  no  difficult  task. 

Yours  truly,  BRAXTON  BRAGG. 

Every  thing  was  ready  for  the  movement  by  eight 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  29th.  The  camp-fires  were 
kindled.  The  cooking  vessels  that  could  not  be  re- 
moved were  broken  up  by  the  light  of  the  blazing 
camp-fires.  In  fact,  the  Confederates  replenished  their 
camp-fires  by  such  combustible  material  of  their  camp 
equipage  as  they  found  inconvenient  to  remove.  The 
main  army  was  withdrawn  in  the  direction  of  Guntown. 
Colonel  Savage  was  ordered  to  take  his  regiment  to 
Smith's  Bridge,  over  the  Tuscumbia  river,  and  cover 
\he  retreat  of  the  army  by  holding  the  bridge  while  the 
army  retired  to  Baldwin.  The  regiment  arrived  at  the 
bridge  about  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  30, 
and,  after  putting  out  pickets  to  guard  the  approaches, 
cut  down  trees  and  completely  blockaded  the  road  for 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  81 

some  distance  through  the  swamp  from  the  river  bank 
to  the  north  and  destroyed  the  bridge.  Placing  pickets 
along  the  river  the  regiment  retired  a  short  distance 
and  bivouaced.  Colonel  Savage  then  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Polk  as  follows: 

SMITH'S  BRIDGE,  TUSCUMBIA,  May  30,  1862. 

Colonel  }}' .  B.  Richmond,  Aid-de-camp: — Your  note  of  this  date 
has  been  received,  and,  in  reply,  I  request  you  to  inform  Major- 
general  Polk  that  my  regiment  reached  this  point  about  daylight. 
The  work  of  cutting  the  timber  and  destroying  the  bridge  com- 
menced immediately  and  was  completed  about  8  o'clock.  The 
regiment  is  posted  near  the  bridge,  with  pickets  on  the  river  to 
detect  an  advance  by  this  road.  I  will  move  back  a  few  hundred 
yards  (keeping  pickets  on  the  river),  to  a  point  where  a  road 
leads  to  the  right  in  a  north-western  direction. 

I  do  not  think  the  enemy  can  force  a  passage  easily,  or  get  in 
my  rear,  without  moving  from  a  point  on  the  railroad  near  Che- 
walla.  I  directed  Captain  Saffaran  to  obstruct  the  upper  cross- 
ing, but  did  not  visit  that  point.  I  will  send  cavalry  there  when 
it  arrives.  This  route  is  obscure,  but  with  latjpr  the  enemy  could 
have  passed  the  ford  with  cavalry  or  infantry. 

Forage  and  subsistence  must  be  drawn  from  the  train  on  your 
route,  as  none  can  be  obtained  here,  unless  I  should  kill  a  beef 
from  the  pastures  and  get  forage  from  the  plantations  near,  which 
I  shall  do  if  the  regular  supply  fails. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully,  JOHN  H.  SAVAGE, 

Colonel  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers. 

The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  remained  at  Smith's  Bridge 
during  May  30  and  31  and  the  first  day  of  June.  The 
enemy  made  no  active  demonstration  on  its  front,  but 
seemed  to  strike  in  the  direction  of  Baldwin.  During 
the  stay  of  three  days  at  Smith's  Bridge  the  regiment 
was  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the  army,  and  held  an 
important  position.  Being  out  of  the  convenient  reach 
of  the  supply  train  the  regiment  subsisted  from  the  lo- 
cality. Beef  was  procured  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
6 


82  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

the  people  on  a  neighboring  plantation  supplied  the 
men  with  corn -bread.  On  the  evening  of  June  2  he 
withdrew  to  Baldwin,  and  on  the  evening  of  June  3 
Colonel  Savage  sent  in  the  following  report  to  Ma- 
jor Williamson,  of  General  Folk's  staff': 

HEAD-QUARTERS  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT     } 
TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS, 

Donelson's  Brigade.  June  3,  1862.) 

Major  George  Williamson,  Assistant  Adjutant -general — 
Major: — In  accordance  with  the  order  of  Major-general  Polk, 
my  regiment  (conducted  by  Captain  Rucker)  destroyed  Smith's 
Bridge  at  daylight  on  Friday  morning.  The  timber  was  cut  by 
Captain  Saffaran's  party  and  the  road  effectually  blockaded. 
Captain  Yerger,  with  his  company  of  cavalry,  reported  and 
scouted  up  and  down  the  river  for  several  miles.  No  artillery 
reported,  and  I  was  satisfied  to  be  without  it. 

On  Saturdav  a  citizen  scout  reported  two  hundred  Yankee 
cavalry  picketed  about  a  mile  from  the  bridge  on  the  road  which 
I  came;  and  that  the  horses  were  very  poor  and  the  men  looking 
badly.  He  informed  them  of  my  force  at  the  bridge.  I  sent 
him  to  find  a  road  to  their  rear,  which  he  promised,  but  did  not 
return,  and  I  hear  nothing  more  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction. 

On  Saturday  evening  I  was  informed  by  a  citizen  that  up  to 
that  time  no  enemy  had  appeared  at  Chewalla,  or  near  there. 

On  Sunday,  about  10  o'clock  P.M.,  I  received  a-note  from  Colo- 
nel Hunt  stating  that  the  enemy  were  rebuilding  the  bridge  at 
Danville,  and  that  he  and  Colonel  Deas  had  agreed  to  march  at 
4  o'clock,  to  prevent  being  cut  off,  asking  my  co-operation,  to 
which  I  consented. 

My  regiment  marched  at  5  o'clock,  leaving  Captain  Yerger's 
company  to  remain  until  dark.  I  fell  in  with  Colonel  Clanton's 
regiment  of  cavalry  near  Kossuth,  who  continued  in  the  rear 
throughout  the  march.  Colonels  Hunt  and  Deas  were  not  over- 
taken till  after  midnight. 

Information  of  the  enemy  on  our  left  was  received  from  citi- 
zens and  scouts,  and  about  one  mile  beyond  Blackland  a  body  of 
two  thousand  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  were  reported  as  marching 
on  that  point.  A  consultation  was  had  between  Colonels  Hunt, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  83 

Deas,  Adams,  Siemens,  Clanton,  and  myself,  when  it  was  deter- 
mined to  march  forward  and  fight  whatever  force  might  appear. 
We  saw  nothing  of  the  enemy,  but  I  am  sure  he  had.  active 
scouts  on  our  left,  and  a  considerable  force  four  or  five  miles 
from  Blackland. 

It  is  thirty  miles  or  more  to  Smith's  Bridge  the  route  I  came. 
I  reached  General  Bragg's  camp  about  4  o'clock  yesterday  even- 
ing. The  men  being  exhausted,  we  encamped  and  came  on  this 
morning.  I  had  a  rear-guard  with  the  strictest  orders,  yet  seven 
men  are  missing,  and  as  thev  are  strong  men  (with  one  excep- 
tion), it  is  feared  that  they  have  fallen  out  of  ranks  until  the  reg- 
iment passed,  and  afterward  took  the  wrong  road.  About  eighty 
axes  were  left  upon  the  road  by  Captain  Saffaran's  party.  I 
brought  forward  twelve,  threw  twelve  into  the  yard  of  Albert 
Jones,  near  Kossuth,  and  deposited  the  others  with  a  planter 
named  Spencer,  near  Smith's  Bridge. 

My  men  captured  a  man  near  Smith's  Bridge,  believing  him  to 
be  a  Yankee.  He  denied  having  been  in  either  service.  When 
we  came  to  General  Bragg's  camp  he  admitted  that  he  belonged 
to  the  First  Louisiana  Regiment.  I  have  him  yet  in  charge,  and 
should  be  glad  to  get  rid  of  him. 

I  am,  Major,  very  respectfully,  JOHX  H.  SAVAGE, 

Colonel  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers. 

The  Confederates  continued  the  retreat  from  Bald- 
win to  Saltillo,  and  thence  to  Tupelo,  where  they  ar- 
rived June  10,  and  encamped  on  a  range  of  ridges 
about  three  miles  west  of  the  depot.  The  men  were 
worn  out  with  fatigue  after  so  long  a  march,  but  they 
soon  recuperated.  Clearing  off  the  timber  for  their 
encampment,  they  pitched  their  tents  and  enjoyed  the 
benefits  of  rest  and  quiet.  Finding  that  good  water 
could  be  obtained  by  digging  a  short  distance,  the 
men  commenced  sinking  wells,  and  in  a  day  or  so  good 
wells  could  be  found  over  the  encampment,  by  which 
the  men  were  supplied  bountifully  with  good  water. 
Supplies  were  plentiful,  for  the  resources  of  the  Con- 
federacy were  not  so  severely  taxed  as  at  subsequent 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


periods.  The  men  here  began  to  have  their  first  ex- 
perience in  high  prices.  The  troops  were  supplied 
with  clothing.  Every  thing  was  plentiful,  and  the 
men  were  all  in  good  spirits. 

General  Bragg  was  now  in  command  of  the  whole 
army.  The  greatest  care  was  now  devoted  to  the  drill- 
ing and  disciplining  of  the  troops,  and  the  army  re- 
mained here  until  the  latter  part  of  July,  when  it 
started  on  its  celebrated  campaign  into  Kentucky. 


REORGANIZATION. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  reorganization  of  the 
Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  and  of  the  whole 
army,  which  took  place  at  Corinth  during  the  earlier 
part  of  May.  The  greater  portion  of  the  Confederate 
troops  enlisted  for  twelve  months,  and  while  at  Corinth 
their  time  expired.  The  enemy  had  this  circumstance 
in  view,  and  had  organized  tremendous  armies  in  front 
of  Richmond  and  Corinth,  and  seemed  to  be  leisurely 
awaiting  the  discharge  of  the  twelve- month  troops  of 
the  Confederacy,  whose  term  would  expire  the  latter 
part  of  April  or  early  in  May,  1862.  The  Confederate 
authorities  had  considei'ed  this  circumstance  carefully, 
and  saw,  if  they  disbanded  the  regiments  as  their  time 
expired,  that  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  would  be 
hopelessly  lost.  A  general  conscription  was  promptly 
decided  upon,  as  recommended  to  the  Confederate 
Congress  in  a  special  message  from  the  President,  and 
a  general  consci'ipt  act  was  passed  by  that  body  about 
the  middle  of  April,  1862.  By  the  terms  of  this  act, 
all  soldiers  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  85 

five  were  to  be  retained  in  the  service  to  the  close  of  - 
the  war.  Such  soldiers  as  were  over  forty-five  or  un- 
der eighteen  years  of  age  were  to  be  discharged,  and 
a  bounty  was  offered  to  all  such  for  re-enlistment.  The 
commissioned  officers  had  the  privilege  of  resigning, 
and  to  all  who  were  not  included  in  the  catalogue  of 
exemption,  a  certain  time  was  given  them  to  choose 
the  branch  of  service  they  were  to  enter. 

The  saivfe  provision  that  applied  to  soldiers  applied 
also  to  civilians,  and  enrolling  officers  were  to  be  ap- 
pointed in  each  civil  district  to  enforce  these  provis- 
ions. To  the  civilians,  the  exemption  included  all  civil 
officers,  physicians,  ministers  of  the  gospel,  millers, 
shoe-makers,  blacksmiths,  all  government  employes, 
and  school-teachers  in  actual  employment  as  such. 
This  placed  an  armed  force  in  every  neighborhood. 
These  enrolling  officers  and  their  .men  gathered  up  the 
people  and  sent  them  to  the  army,  and  the  ranks  were 
recruited  in  this  manner. 

Many  saw  the  approach  of  the  conscript  officer  and 
enlisted.  Such  men  made  good  soldiers.  Of  the  con- 
script force,  the  majoi-ity  went  under  protest.  Of  this 
number  there  were  few  effective  soldiers.  Some 
fought  well  in  the  different  battles,  and  many  deserted 
at  the  first  opportunity  and  persistently  avoided  all 
participation  in  the  war.  To  look  after  this  class  re- 
quired the  services  of  efficient  soldiers,  and  with  this 
class  of  recruits  the  rolls  were  enlarged  and  the  Con- 
federate ranks  nominally  strengthened,  but  practically 
weakened. 

The  conscript  act  had  reference,  first,  to  the  army, 
and  required  the  reorganization  of  all  the  forces,  by 
virtue  of  the  following  order: 


86  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

General  Order^    HEA-D-QUARTERS  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT,) 
No.  39.        \  CORINTH,  Miss.,  May  6,  1862.     f 

I.  In  pursuance  of  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  the  Confederate 
Congress,  entitled  "An  Act  to  further  provide  for  the  public  de- 
fense," all   regiments,  battalions,  squadrons,  and   companies  of 
twelve -month  volunteers  of  this  army,  will  proceed  to  organize 
by  electing  their  proper  company  and  field  officers.     This  elec- 
tion the  several  brigade  commanders  will  cause  to  be  held  within 
their  respective  brigades  at  12  meridian  on  the  Sth  inst.,  except 
in  regiments,  or  battalions,  on    picket  or  outpost  service,  which 
will  hold  elections  as  soon  as  relieved. 

II.  The  form  of  election  and  certifying  these  elections  will 
conform,  as  far  as  practicable,  with  the  laws  of  the  State  from 
which  the  men,  or  a  major  part  thereof,  may  come;  and  in  all 
cases  where  the  field  officers  are  elected  by  the  company  officers, 
the  latter  shall  be  first  chosen. 

III.  All  certificates  of  election  will  be  forwarded  through  these 
head-quarters  to  the  Adjutant-general's  office  at  Richmond.    Offi- 
cers thus  elected,  upon  receiving  a  copv  of  the  certificate  of  their 
election,  will  immediately  enter  upon  duty;  and  such  as  are  not 
re-elected  will  be  relieved  from  duty  and  their  names  forwarded 
by   brigade    commanders,    through    these    head-quarters,   to  the 
War  Department. 

IV.  In  the  elections  herein  directed  no  person  who  is  to  be 
discharged  from  the  service  under  the  provisions  of  ihis  act  will 
be  allowed  to  take  part. 

V.  In  case  any  regiment,  battalion,  or  company  shall   have 
been  already  duly  reorganized,  and  elections  held  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  new  elections  will  not  be  required. 

VI.  The   commanding  general  regards  it  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance at  this  juncture  that  only  intelligent  and  capable  officers 
should  be  elected  by  the  men;  none  others  are  worthy  to  lead 
them;  none  others  can  do  so  creditably  or  safely.     Therefore  he 
will  not  recommend  any  one  for  commission   by  the  President 
without  said  officer  shall  have  been  reported  duly  qualified  by  a 
board  of  three  officers  for  the  examination  of  all  elected  under 
this  order. 

VII.  These  boards  will  require  all  officers  to  be  of  good  phys- 
ical and  mental  abilitv  and  of  fair  moral  character.     All  field  offi- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  *          87 

cers  must  be  able  to  maneuver  or  drill  a  battalion  in  the  "  School 
of  the  Battalion,''  and  be  found  acquainted  with  the  "Articles  of 
War,"  and  the  "Army  Regulations"  touching  their  duties,  es- 
pecially in  the  camp,  on  the  march,  and  on  outpost  service,  as 
prescribed  from  these  head-quarters.  And  all  company  officers 
must  be  able  to  drill  a  company  in  the  "School  of  the  Com- 
pany" and  '•  Soldier,"  and  be  acquainted  with  the  duties  of  a 
company  officer  and  officer  of  the  guard,  as  prescribed  in  the 
Army  Regulations. 

VIII.  Boards  for  the  examination  of  field  officers  will  be  ap- 
pointed bv  corps  or  division  commanders,  and  for  company  offi- 
cers, by  brigade  commanders. 

By  command  of  General  Beauregard. 

THOMAS  JORDAN,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

The  conscript  act  and  the  order  to  reorganize  under 
its  provisions  caused  some  dissatisfaction  among  the 
troops.  The  men  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regi- 
ment had  made  arrangement  to  enter  the  cavalry  serv- 
ice at  the  expiration  of  their  twelve  months,  and  had 
bought  their  equipments  at  Mobile.  They  murmured 
at  the  thought  of  being  placed  at  the  mercy  of  arbi- 
trary power  that  would  assume  such  absolute  control 
of  their  liberties.  They  soon  came  to  realize  that  the 
conscript  law  was  an  act  of  desperation,  and  unless  it 
was  enforced  the  Confederacy  would  be  forced  to  sur- 
render the  cause.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the 
majority  of  the  commissioned  officers  intended  to  re- 
main with  their  men,  and  they  (the  men)  then  became 
reconciled  to  the  situation,  and  proceeded  to  reorganize 
the  regiment. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  at  the  reorgan- 
ization: 


88  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

JOHN  H.  SAVAGE,  Colonel; 

D.  M.  DONNELL,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

P.  H.  COFFEE,  Major; 

JCHN  R.  PAINE,  Adjutant; 

THOMAS  W.  LEAK,  Surgeon; 

CHARLES  K.  MAUZY,  Assistant  Surgeon; 

FRANK  MARCHBANKS,  Quarter-master; 

JAMES  BROWN,  Commissary. 

In  the  absence  of  a  regular  regimental  chaplain,  the 
religious  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  M.  B. 
De  Witt,  Chaplain  of  the  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment. 

The  following  company  officers  were  elected: 

COMPANY  A. 

L.  N.  Savage Captain. 

R.  B.  Anderson First  Lieutenant. 

G.  L.  Talley Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  C.  Potter Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  B. 

J.  H.  L.  Duncan Captain. 

E.  W.  Walker First  Lieutenant. 

John  K.  Ensey Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Fisher Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  C. 

D.  C.  Spurlock Captain. 

E.  C.  Read First  Lieutenant. 

Cicero  Spurlock Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  L.  Thompson Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  D. 

J.  G.  Lamberth Captain. 

William   White First  Lieutenant. 

F.  M.  York Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  L.  Brown...  Third  Lieutenant. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  89 

COM  PANT  E. 

J.  J.  Womack Captain. 

J.  K.  P.  Webb First  Lieutenant. 

B.  P.  Green Second  Lieutenant. 

Jesse  Walling Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

John  B.  Vance Captain. 

W.  W7.  Baldwin First  Lieutenant. 

D.  G.  Pointer ; Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Wallace Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  G. 

A.  T.  Fisher Captain. 

W.  L.  Woods First  Lieutenant. 

A.  Fisk Second  Lieutenant. 

James  R.  Fisher Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  H.' 

James  M.  Parks Captain. 

W.  G.  Etter First  Lieutenant. 

H.  L.  Hayes Second  Lieutenant. 

John  Akeman Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  I. 

Ben  Randals Captain. 

James  Worthington First  Lieutenant. 

S.  D.  Mitchell Second  Lieutenant. 

Dennv  Cummings Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  K. 

D.  T.  Brown Captain. 

W.  D.  Turlington First  Lieutenant. 

J.  Ed.  Rotan Second  Lieutenant. 

Wm.  Lowrj Third  Lieutenant. 

This  constituted  the  reorganization  of  the  Sixteenth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  which  was  effected  at  Corinth; 
May  8,  1862.  These  officers  led  the  men  of  the  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  during  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  on 


90  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

the  memorable  retreat  to  Tupelo.  Some  changes  were 
subsequently  made  where  vacancies  were  filled  by  pro- 
motions, which  "will  be  duly  noted  in  another  part  of 
this  work. 

The  army  remained  at  Tupelo  during  the  months  of 
June  and  July.  Memphis  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  Federals.  A  similar  fate  had  attended  New  Or- 
leans. The  Federal  gun-boats  had  approached  Baton 
Rouge  from  below,  and  were  threatening  Vicksburg 
from  above.  The  Federal  army  had  dispersed  to  other 
points,  and  the  Western  Department  of  Bragg's  army 
had  returned  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department. 

General  Bragg  had  placed  his  army  in  shape  for  an 
aggressive  movement  into  Kentucky.  The  object  of 
this  movement  was  threefold.  First,  it  would  cause 
the  Federal  army*  to  evacuate  Tennessee;  second,  it 
would  enable  him  to  recruit  his  army  in  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky;  and  third,  it  would  enable  him  to  gather 
supplies  of  such  articles  as  were  becoming  scarce  in 
the  Confederacy.  The  whole  army  having  been  thor- 
oughly reorganized  and  equipped  for  the  campaign, 
General  Bragg  sent  his  wagon  trains  to  Chattanooga 
early  in  July,  and  on  the  2ist  of  the  month  he  began 
to  send  his  troops  to  that  point  on  the  cars.  On  July 
22,  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  took  the  cars  at 
Tupelo  and  proceeded  to  Mobile,  thence  by  way  of 
Montgomery  and  Atlanta,  and  arrived  at  Chattanooga 
on  the  27th.  The  whole  army  was  being  gathered  at 
Chattanooga  as  fast  as  the  railroads  could  transport  the 
troops.  General  Bragg  encamped  his  arm}'  to  the  east 
of  Chattanooga,  at  the  western  base  of  Missionary 
•Ridge,  and  remained  in  this  encampment  for  a  few 
weeks.  Many  of  the  Tennessee  troops  were  approach- 
ing their  homes,  and  were  met  at  Chattanooga  by  rel- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  91 

atives  and  friends,  who  brought  them  supplies  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  from  home. 

On  August  17,  Bragg  commenced  his  forward  move- 
ment from  Chattanooga.  Crossing  the  Tennessee 
river  at  this  point,  he  moved  forward  a  few  miles  and 
encamped  for  a  few  days  at  a  place  known  to  the  army 
as  Stringer's.  Proceeding  northward  from  this  point, 
he  moved  leisurely  with  his  army  till  August  30,  when 
he  camped  for  two  days  at  the  foot  of  Walden's  Ridge. 
At  this  place  a  detail  of  fifteen  men  was  made  from 
the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  to  recruit  the  bat- 
tery. Volunteers  came  forward  to  fill  the  detail,  and 
those  men  were  permanently  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
artillery. 

Captain  Randals'  company  of  the  Sixteenth  was  de- 
tailed to  guard  the  wagon  trains  across  Walden's 
Ridge  and  Cumberland  Mountain,  and  proceeded  in 
advance  of  the  army.  The  army  following  the  trains, 
passed  through  Pikeville  September  i,  crossed  Cum- 
berland Mountain,  and  encamped  for  a  few  days  at 
the  mouth  of  Cane  Creek,  on  the  west  base  of  the 
Cumberland  Mountain. 

While  encamped  here,  the  families  of  the  soldiers 
from  Van  Buren  and  White  counties  met  them  at  this 
place  with  refreshments,  and  the  boys  enjoyed  the  oc- 
casion to  the  fullest.  I-t  was  a  great  pleasure  to  meet 
with  relatives  and  friends;  besides,  they  were  supplied 
bountifully  with  every  thing  that  was  good  to  eat. 
The  boys  who  lived  near  by  were  granted  a  brief  leave 
of  absence  to  visit  their  homes,  and  to  many  the  re- 
turn to  their  camp  was  their  permanent  parting  from 
their  families  and  homes.  Many  of  -those  men  fell  in 
the  battle  of  Perry ville  shortly  afterward. 

On  the  morning  of  the   t^th,  the  regiment  arrived  at 


92  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

Sparta  and  encamped.  At  this  point  there  was  a  gen- 
eral reunion  of  the  White  county  boys  of  the  regiment 
and  their  families  and  friends.  On  the  6th.  the  resri- 

O 

ment  left  Sparta  and  proceeded  to  Gainesboro.  The 
army  moved  on  rapidly  now.  The  men  thought  before 
this  that  they  were  moving  on  Nashville.  It  was  now 
learned  that  Louisville  was  the  objective  point.  The 
Federals  in  Tennessee  were  commanded  by  General 
Buell,  who  seemed  completely  deceived  as  to  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Confederates.  He  had  completely  lost 
sight  of  Bragg  after  he  crossed  the  Tennessee  river. 
The  Northern  press  seemed  to  know  nothing  of  his- 
whereabouts  till  he  appeared  with  his  army  at  Sparta. 
His  plans  now  being  understood  by  the  Federals,  they 
began  to.  withdraw  from  Tennessee,  and  bore  in  the 
direction  of  Louisville. 

It  was  Bragg's  intention  to  strike  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  Railroad  north  of  Green  river  before  Buell 
could  arrive.  To  accomplish  this  his  army  crossed 
the  Cumberland  river  near  Gainesboro,  and  pressed 
<  onward  by  way  of  Tompkinsville  and  Glasgow,  Ky.r 
to  Mumfordville,  on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Rail- 
road. This  point  was  garrisoned  with  4,500  men  un- 
der Colonel  Wilder.  Bragg  invested  the  place  on  the 
night  of  September  16,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  lyth 
the  garrison  surrendered.  Bragg  then  moved  up  the 
railroad  to  Bacon  Creek,  where  he  learned  that  Buell . 
was  at  Cave  City,  and  he  returned  to  Mumfordville 
with  the  intention  of  giving  him  battle.  Bragg  re- 
turned to  Mumfordville  on  the  morning  of  the  iSthr 
and  placed  his  army  in  shape  for  action.  He  spent 
the  day  in  line,  but  Buell  failed  to  appear. 

The  wounded  were  at  Mumfordville,  the  result  of  a 
battle  on   the    i5th.       General   Bragg  had   sent  Chal- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  93 

mers's  brigade  from  Glasgow  to  Mumfordville  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  nature  of  the  defenses  and 
the  strength  of  the  enemy's  forces.  General  Chalmers 
hastened  to  the  point  and  drew  up  his  brigade  before 
the  works.  He  was  supported  by  a  detachment  of 
cavalry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  He  was  directed 
to  make  a  feint  movement  in  order  to  ascertain  their 
strength.  Either  misconstruing  the  order  or  under- 
estimating the  enemy's  strength  and  overestimating  his 
own,  he  assaulted  the  Federal  fort  and  his  brigade  was 
cut  to  pieces.  The  fort  was  almost  impregnable  to 
assault,  and  was  defended  by  numbers  superior  to 
Chalmers's  force.  The  result  was  that  Chalmers's 
brigade  was  at  once  repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  four  hun- 
dred men.  The  wounded  were  being  cared  for  at 
Mumfordville  when  Bragg  returned,  after  its  capture, 
to  give  battle  to  Buell. 

After  spending  the  day  at  Mumfordville,  it  was  as- 
certained that  Buell  had  determined  to  avoid  battle  at 
Mumfordville  and  to  hasten  on  to  Louisville.  Accord- 
ingly, he  set  out  on  the  evening  of  September  18  with 
his  whole  army,  and  Bragg  moved  at  the  same  time  to 
Bacon  Creek.  During  the  night  of  the  iSth  and 
throughout  the  day  on  the  I9th,  the  two  opposing  ar- 
mies seemed  to  be  running  a  race.  They  moved  side 
by  side,  with  scarcely  a  dozen  miles  intervening.  In 

-*  */  o 

this  manner  the  march  was  kept  up  till  September  20. 
Bragg  had  moved  along  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railroad,  and  Buell  moved  on  the  dirt  road  running 
parallel,  and  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  to  the  west  of 
the  railroad.  By  this  time  it  was  learned  that  Buell 
had  gained  some  advantage  in  distance,  and  when 
Bragg  learned  that  Buell  would  be  the  first  to  Louis- 
ville, he  abandoned  his  intentions  on  the  city  from  his 
present  route. 


94  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

He  now  left  the  railroad  and  proceeded  to  Bards- 
town,  where  he  arrived  about  September  25.  The 
army  was  encamped  near  Bardstown  for  several  days. 
On  October  4,  Buell  came  out  from  Louisville  with 
his  whole  army,  and  moved  on  Bardstown.  Bragg 
moved  out  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  and  passing 
Fredericksburg  and  Springfield,  encamped  for  the 
night,  and  proceeded  on  the  6th  by  way  of  Perry ville 
to  Danville,  where  his  army  was  encamped  for  the 
night.  On  the  morning  of  the  yth,  the  Confederates 
resumed  their  march  and  arrived  at  Harrodsburg  about 
3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Encamping  near  the  place, 
the  men  prepared  .their  rations  and  had  every  thing 
ready  to  march  by  8  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Buell  had 
appeared  before  Perryville,  and  the  determination  was 
established  by  General  Bragg  to  give  him  battle  at  that 
point.  It  was  twelve  miles  from  Harrodsburg  to  Per- 
ryville. 

Bragg's  army  was  put  in  motion  on  the  night  of 
the  yth,  and  returned  to  Perryville  about  midnight. 
Hardee's  corps  was  placed  in  front  of  Perryville,  and 
Folk's,  corps  was  placed  upon  an  elevation  behind  the 
town,  and  held  as  a  reserve.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
the  8th  the  enemy  engaged  the  skirmish  lines  in  Har- 
clee's  front.  The  skirmishing  increased  as  the  day  ad- 
vanced, and  merged  into  a  regular  artillery  duel.  The 
Federals  had  superior  numbers.  Bragg's  army  con- 
sisted of  Folk's  and  Hardee's  corps.  BuelFs  army  was 
forced  to  operate  under  great  disadvantages.  The 
country  roundabout  was  destitute  of  water.  Being  a 
high  limestone  region,  and  a  severe  drouth  prevailing 
at  the  time,  the  creeks  and  branches  were  all  dry. 
Bragg's  army  had  exhausted  the  supply  of  water  dur- 
ing its  retreat,  and  Buell  following  immediately  after 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  95 

him  found  it  very  difficult  to  obtain  water  for  his  men. 
This  was  the  situation  at  Perryville  on  the  morning  of 
October  8,  1862.  The  Chaplin  Creek  runs  through  the 
center  of  the  town.  At  this  time  there  was  no  water 
in  the  channel  of  this  creek  about  the  town.  Two 
miles  below  Perryville  there  was  a  depression  in  the 
channel  of  the  creek.  This  depression  was  about  two 
hundred  yards  long,  the  width  of  the  entire  channel, 
and  filled  with  water  to  the  depth  of  from  two  to  four 
feet.  When  Buell  became  A  ware  of  the  existence  of 
this  pool  of  water  and  a  spring  near  by,  he  resolved  to 
shift  the  scene  of  operations  to  this  point.  Sending  a 
couple  of  infantry  regiments  in  this  direction,  he  con- 
tinued to  engage  Hardee's  skirmish  lines  and  bore  in 
the  direction  of  the  spring.  In  the  afternoon  he  com- 
menced moving  his  whole  army  to  the  left.  Polk  was 
ordered  to  counteract  this  movement.  Some  Texas 
cavalry  charged  the  advance-guard  of  two  regiments 
about  the  time  of  their  arrival  at  the  spring  and  drove 
them  back.  Folk's  corps  was  hurried  to  the  right. 
Hastening  down  the  Chaplin  at  a  double-quick,  it  was 
formed  in  line  of  battle  near  the  spring  before  men- 
tioned.. The  enemy's  advance  having  been  checked 
by  the  Texas  cavalryj  formed  a  line  of  battle  in  double 
column  about  eight  hundred  yards  from  the  top  of  the 
bluff,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Chaplin  and  on  the  east 
side  of  a  hill.  Folk's  corps  appeared  before  the  bluff. 
Ascending  the  bluff  in  line  of  battle,  by  brigades,  the 
top  was  gained  with  difficulty.  Donelson's  brigade 
was  the  first  to  gain  the  top  of  the  heights.  The  en- 
emy was  posted  in  their  front,  in  double  column,  eight 
hundred  yards  distant.  The  men  were  given  a  mo- 
ment to  rest  at  the  top  of  the  bluff,  and  the  word  "  For- 
ward" was  given.  The  men  obeyed  with  a  yell.  For 


96  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

six  hundred  yards  the  ground  was  irregular,  and  hav- 
ing stone  fences  running  in  different  directions,  the 
men  scaled  them  without  difficulty.  At  this  point 
there  was  a  slight  trough-like  depression  in  the  ground, 
running  parallel  with  the  enemy's  lines.  As  the  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  approached  the  lowest  point  of  this 
depression  the  enemy  opened  a  murderous  fire  upon 
them  with  musketry  and  artillery  from  right,  left,  and 
front.  The  ranks  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  were 
mowed  down  at  a  fearful  rate,  and  the  Fifteenth  Regi- 

O 

ment  also  suffered  severely.  The  ranks  closed  up  and 
the  brigade  pressed  onward  in  the  charge.  Colonel 
Savage  was  \vith  his  men  directing  their  movements 
as  calmly  as  if  it  had  been  a  regimental  drill. 

As  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiments 
moved  up  the  hill  and  came  nearer  to  the  enemy,  the 
fight  grew  more  and  more  desperate.  Heavy  charges 
of  grape  and  canister  were  hurled  into  their  ranks 
from  the  front  and  on  the  flanks.  Stewart's  brigade 
now  came  up  and  formed  on  the  left  of  Donelson's 
brigade,  by  which  support  the  Fifteenth  Tennessee 
•was  partially  relieved  of  the  severe  cross-fire  upon  its 
left  wing.  Buell  was  still  bearing  to  his  left,  and  a 
heavy  force  was  now  massed  in  front,  and  on  the  right 
of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment.  The  enemy 
bending  his  line  around  the  right  flank  of  the  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  Regiment  near  an  old  log  cabin, 
an  enfilading  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  was  poured 
into  its  ranks;  yet  the  regiment  held* its  ground  for 
half  an  hour,  when  Maney's  brigade  came  up  and 
formed  on  its  right.  General  Manev  charged  this 
flanking  party  of  the  enemy,  and  swung  it  around  on 
its  main  line,  forming  an  angle  in  the  shape  of  the  let- 
ter V.  This  opened  the  way  for  artillery,  which  was 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.*  97 

hurried  to  the  scene,  and  planted  at  the  point  of  the 
angle.  The  battle  on  the  right  now  raged  with  fury, 
and  the  slaughter  was  terrible.  The  enemy  finally 
yielded  this  line  and  fell  back  to  a  lane  at  the  top  of 
the  hill,  about  three  hundred  yards  distant.  In  this 
lane  he  reformed  his  lines  and  planted  his  batteries. 
The  Confederates  were  prompt  to  appropriate  every 
inch  of  ground  which  they  gained  from  the  enemy, 
and  were  quickly  pouring  destructive  volleys  into  his 
ranks  along  the  lane.  The  enemy  contested  this  ground 
stubbornly.  The  Confederates  pressed  the  assault  with 
vigor.  The  enemy,  after  losing  several  of  his  guns 
and  many  valuable  officers,  including  two  brigadier- 
generals,*  yielded  this  line  about  sundown,  and  the 
battle  ended  for  the  day.  The  enemy  retired  to  a  tim- 
bered region  about  three  miles  from  their  first  line  of 
the  evening.  The  Confederates  held  the  field  at  night, 
and  had  gained  a  decided  victory. 

The  losses  on  both  sides  had  been  heavy,  and  the 
battle,  for  the  number  of  men  and  the  length  of  time 
engaged,  was  the  severest  of  the  war.  The  Sixteenth 
Tennessee  lost  over  two  hundred  men.  The  Eighth 
Tennessee  suffered  severely,  as  did  also  the  Fifteenth 
Tennessee,  of  Donelson's,  and  the  First  Tennessee,  of 
Maney's  brigades.  The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  engaged 
the  Thirty-third  Ohio,  and  subsequently  the  Seventh 
Ohio,  which  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Oscar  F. 
Moore. 

Colonel  Savage  received  two  wounds  early  in  the 
fight,  and  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  but  he  re- 
mained on  the  field  till  the  issue  was  decided.  Late 
in  the  evening  he  became  exhausted  from  loss  of 
blood.  Dr.  Charles  K.  Mauzy,  Surgeon  of  the  Six- 

*  Webster  and  Terrell. 


98  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

teenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  dressed  his  wound,  and 
Dr.  Cross,  the  brigade  chaplain,  procured  quarters  for 
him  in  a  farm-house,  and  attended  him  through  the 
night.  The  Federal  general,  Jackson,  was  killed  by 
Savage's  men.  A  Federal  colonel  was  brought  in  a 
pi'isoner,  and  severely  wounded.  This  man  proved  to 
be  Colonel  Oscar  F.  Moore,  said  to  be  of  the  Seventh 
Ohio,  and  Was  personally  acquainted  with  Colonel 
Savage  in  the  United  States  Congress.  He  told  Colo- 
nel Savage  that  his  regiment  had  suffered  severely, 
and  had  lost  near  half  its  number.  Colonel  Savage 
told  the  Federal  officer  the  same  of  his  own  regiment. 
The  two  regiments  had  engaged  each  other  through 
the  day.  Both  had  suffered  greatly,  and  the  com- 
mander of  each  regiment  was  wounded,  and  one  a 
prisoner.  Colonel  Savage  assured  Colonel  Moore  that 
he  should  have  the  best  attention  that  it  was  in  his 
power  to  bestow,  and  ordered  the  surgeons  and  at- 
tendants to  bestow  upon  Colonel  Moore  the  same  at- 
tention they  would  bestow  upon  one  of  their  own  men. 
General  Jackson  and  Colonel  Savage  had  known  each 
other  in  public  life. 

The  wounded  were  cared  for  as  well  as  the  circum- 
stances would  allow.  All  who  could  travel  were  sent 
to  HaiTodsburg.  Those  not  able  to  bear  transporta- 
tion w,ere  taken  to  the  farm-houses  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, where  hospitals  were  established. 

General  Bragg  withdrew  his  army  early  in  the  morn- 
ing and  returned  to  Harrodsburg.  From  Harrodsburg 
he  retreated  to  Camp  Dick  Robertson,  and  thence  to 
Knoxville.  The  wounded  were  left  in  the  field  hos- 
pitals and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  dead 
were  left  on  the  field  unburied.  The  enemy  buried 
their  own  dead,  but  left  the  Confederate  dead,  which 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  99 

lay  upon  the  field  for  four  days.  They  were  then  par- 
tially buried  by  the  people  of  Perryville  and  vicinity. 
The^ground  was  very  hard  and  they  were  just  merely 
covered  up,  and  remained  thus  for  six  or  eight  weeks, 
when  they  were  gathered  up  by  the  good  people  of  the 
place  and  decently  buried  in  one  common  grave-yard. 
Those  who  died  of  wounds  were  buried  in  the  cemeteries 
.at  Harrodsburg  and  Perryville.  The  people  of  Pe.rry- 
ville  afforded  every  assistance  in  their  power  to  the 
suffering  of  either  army.  As  the  Confederate  wounded 
recovered  they  were  paroled  and  sent  to  Vicksburg 
for  exchange. 


zoo         THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


CHAPTER    III. 

BATTLE  OF  MURFREESBORO. 

General  Bragg's  army  now  returned  to  Middle  Ten- 
nessee. The  troops  were  transported  on  the  cars  to 
Chattanooga,  from  which  place  they  marched  to 
Bridgeport  and  thence  to  Tullahoma.  The  railroad 
bridge  was  rebuilt  at  Bridgeport,  and  General  Bragg 
was  then  able  to  bring  supplies  by  railroad. 

After  the  retreat  from  Kentucky,  target  practice  was 
instituted  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  who  were  the 
picked  marksmen  of  the  army.  J.  D.  Phillips,  of 
Company  A,  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  won  the  prize, 
which  was  a  Whitworth  rifle,  of  accurate  range  at  three 
thousand  yards.  These  guns  were  charged  to  the  men 
at  $1,500  each,  and  were  used  for  sharp-shooting  pur- 
poses. 

The  Confederates  now  advanced  in  the  direction  of 
Nashville  and  encamped  near  Murfreesboro.  Many  of 
the  Tennessee  troops  received  furloughs  and  visited 
their  homes.  Being  now  in  their  own  country,  many 
of  the  soldiers  received  the  benefits  of  supplies  from 
home.  The  Confederate  encampment  was  visited  daily 
by  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  soldiers,  and  during 
the  month  of  December  the  army  recuperated,  'and 
was  now  in  readiness  for  further  operations  upon  the 
enemy. 

The  Federals  were  around  Nashville  under  com- 
mand of  General  Rosecrans,  who  was  being  re-en- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  101 

forced,  and  was  preparing  for  an  aggressive  move- 
ment upon  the  Confederates  about  Murfreesboro.  The 
Confederate  outposts  extended  to  Lavergne,  and  the 
cavalry  made  frequent  reconnoisance  in  front  to  Anti- 
och,  on  the  railroad,  and  to  Dogtown,  on  Mill  Creek. 
Rosecrans  moved  out  from  Nashville  during  the  latter 
part  of  December.  As  his  lines  advanced,  his.  out- 
posts were  engaged  by  the  Confederate  cavalry  and 
infantry,  who  gradually  fell  back  in  the  direction  of 
Murfreesboro.  On  December  30,  1862,  the  Confeder- 
ate lines  were  established  in  front  of  Murfreesboro, 
and  Rosecrans  had  placed  his  army  in  battle  array  a 
few  miles  to  the  Confederate  front.  A  general  skir- 
mishing and  cannonading  was  kept  up  all  day  during 
December  30,  during  which  time  each  army  was  ma- 
neuvering its  forces  with  a  view  to  obtaining  the  ad- 
vantage of  position.  Hardens  corps  occupied  the  left 
wing  of  Bragg's  army  and  Folk's  corps  occupied  the 
right  wing.  Cheatham's  division  was  on  the  right  of 
Folk's  corps;  Donelson's  brigade  was  on  the  right  of 
the  division,  and  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment 
was  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  and  with  two  com- 
panies of  the  regiment  extending  across  the  railroad. 
The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  was  on  the  extreme  right  of 
the  Confederate  lines  during  the  first  day's  battle. 
Breckinridge's  division  was  placed  behind  Stone's 
river,  on  Cheatham's  right,  as  a  reserve,  and  was  not 
•engaged  on  that  part  of  the  line  during  the  first  day's 
fight.  General  Bragg  made  a  general  attack  on  the 
Federal  lines  on  the  morning  of  December  31,  and  the 
battle  continued  through  the  day,  with  heavy  losses  on 
both  sides,  but  no  definite  advantage  to  either  at  the 
close  of  the  day. 


io2          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

The  Federals  bore  to  their  left  during  the  first  day's 
fight,  and  seemed  determined  to  turn  the  Confederate 
right  wing.  This  made  the  battle  desperate  in  Cheat- 
ham's  front,  and  especially  on  the  extreme  right  on  the 
railroad  track.  This  part  of  the  field  was  held  by 
Savage's  regiment,  and  was  considered  by  the  com- 
manding general  to  be  the  key  to  the  position.  The 
regiment  held  its  ground  at  this  point  for  three  hours 
against  fearful  odds,  until  it  was  relieved  by  General 
Adams's  brigade. 

On  the  morning  of  January  i,  Rosecrans  had  suc- 
ceeded in  massing  a  heavy  force  upon  an  elevation'  on 
the  Confederate  righ't  wing.  Breckinridge  was  ordered 
to  attack  this  point  on  the  Federal  lines,  which  he  did 
on  the  morning  of  January  i,  but  was  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss.  The  position  was  a  very  strong  one,  and 
Breckinridge's  forces  were  inferior  to  the  Federals  in 
point  of  numbers. 

It  was  now  ascertained  that  Rosecrans  had  gained 
a  decided  advantage  over  the  Confederates  in  the  way 
of  position,  and  having  been  re-enforced  to  numbers 
by  far  the  superior  of  the  Confederates,  Bragg  saw  at 
once  his  inability  to  hold  his  position,  and  a  retreat 
was  ordered.  The  Confederates  withdrew  to  Shelby- 
ville  and  Tullahoma. 

The  battle  of  Murfreesboro  had  been  a  severe  and 
desperate  conflict.  The  Tennessee  troops  fought  with 
desperation,  because  they  felt  that  they  were  fighting 
for  their  homes.  The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment 
lost  two  hundred  and  five  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  The  regiment  held  the  most  critical  position 
on  the  field,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  defended  its 
position,  and  performed  the  responsible  and  arduous 
duty  assigned  it,  is  more  fully  described  in  the  official 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  103 

report  of  General  Donelson,  a  few  extracts  from  which, 
we  give  below: 

The  brigade  was  composed  of  the  following  regiments  and 
battery,  viz.:  The  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers, 
Colonel  John  H.  Savage;  the  Thirty-eighth  Regiment  Tennessee 
Volunteers,  Colonel  John  C.  Carter;  the  Fifty-first  Regiment 
Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  John  Chester;  the  Eighth  Regi- 
ment Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  W.  L.  Moore;  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton; 
and  Captain  Carnes's  battery.  The  Eighty-fourth  Regiment,  be- 
ing a  new  and  very  small  regiment,  was  assigned  to  my  com- 
mand on  the  morning  of  the  2gth  of  December,  1862,  only  two 
days  before  the  battle. 

In  obedience  to  orders,  the  tents  were  struck  and  the  wagons 
packed  and  sent  to  the  rear  Sunday  night,  December  27.  At 
daylight  Monday  morning  the  brigade  was  moved  to  and  as- 
sumed its  line  of  battle,  which  was  second  and  supporting  to  the 
first  line  of  battle — two  companies  of  Colonel  Savage's,  the  right 
regiment,  extending  across  the  railroad,  and  Colonel  Carter's, 
the  left  regiment,  across  the  Wilkerson  pike,  its  left  resting  on 
the  right  of  Stewart's  brigade.  This  line  of  battle,  with  General 
Chalmers's  brigade  in  front,  which  mine  was  to  support,  was 
formed  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  about  three  hundred  yards  in  a 
south-east  direction  from  the  white  house,  known  as  Mrs.  Jones's. 
That  position  was  retained  under  an  occasional  shelling,  with  but 
few  casualties,  'until  dark  Tuesday  evening,  when,  in  obedience 
to  orders  from  Lieutenant-general  Polk,  the  brigade  was  moved 
forward  to  the  front  line  to  relieve  General  Chalmers's  brigade, 
which  had  already  held  that  position  for  three  days  and  nights. 
....  The  brigade  had  occupied  the  front  line  behind  Chalmers's 
breastworks  but  a  few  minutes  when  General  Chalmers  having 
received  a  severe  wound,  his  brigade  was  broken,  and  the  greater 
portion  of  it  fell  back  in  disorder  and  confusion.  Under  orders 
from  Lieutenant-general  Polk,  I  immediately  advanced  my  bri- 
gade to  its  support,  and,  indeed,  to  its  relief,  under  a  show€r  of 
shot  and  shell  of  almost  every  description.  During  this  advance 
my  horse  was  shot  under  me,  from  which,  and  another  wound 
received  at  the  Cowan  House,  he  died  during  the  day.  In  ad- 


104         THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

vancing  upon  and  attacking  the  enemy  under  such  a  fire,  my 
brigade  found  it  impossible  to  preserve  its  alignment,  because  of 
the  walls  of  the  burnt  house,  known  as  Cowan's,  and  the  yard 
and  garden  fence  and  picketing  left  standing  around  and  about 
it;  in  consequence  of  which  Savage's  regiment,  with  three  com- 
panies of  Chester's  regiment,  went  to  the  right  of  the  Cowan, 
House,  and  advanced  upon  the  enemy  until  they  were  checked 
by  three  batteries  of  the  enemy,  with  a  heavy  infantry  support, 
on  the  hill  to  the  right  of  the  railroad;  while  the  other  two  regi- 
ments— Carter's  and  Moore's — with  seven  companies  of  Chester's 
regiment,  went  to  the  left  of  that  house  through  a  most  destruc- 
tive cross-fire,  both  of  artillery  and  small  arms,  driving  the 
enemy  and  sweeping  every  thing  before  them,  until  they  arrived 
at  the  open  field  beyond  the  cedar  brake  in  a  north-west  direction 

from  the  Cowan  House Colonel  Savage's  regiment  held, 

in  my  judgmeat,  the  most  critical  position  of  that  part  of  the 
field — unable  to  advance  and  determined  not  to  retire.  Having 
received  a  message  from  Lieutenant-general  Polk  that  I  should 
in  a  short  time  be  re-enforced  and  properly  supported,  I  ordered 
Colonel  Savage  to  hold  his  position  at  all  hazards,  and  I  felt  it 
my  duty  to  remain  with  that  part  of  the  brigade  holding  so  im- 
portant and  hazardous  a  position  as  that  occupied  by  him.  Colo- 
nel Savage,  finding  the  line  he  had  to  defend  entirely  too  long 
for  the  number  of  men  under  his  command,  and  that  there  was 
danger  of  his  being  flanked,  either  to  the  right  or  left,  as  the  one 
or  the  other  wing  presented  the  weaker  front,  finally  threw  out 
the  greater  part  of  his  command  as  skirmishers,  as  well  to  de- 
ceive the  enemy  as  to  our  strength  in  his  rear  as  to  protect  his 
long  line,  and  held  his  position  with  characteristic  coolness  and 
most  commendable  tenacity  for  over  three  hours.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  Jackson's  brigade  came  up  to  my  support;  but 
instead  of  going  to  the  right  of  the  Cowan  House  and  to  the  sup- 
port of  Colonel  Savage,  it  went  to  the  left  of  the  house,  and  over 
the  ground  which  the  two  left  regiments  and  seven  companies  of 
my  brigade  had  gone  over.  After  Jackson's,  General  Adams's 
brigade  came  up  to  the  support  of  Colonel  Savage,  when  the  lat- 
ter withdrawing  his  regiment  to  make  way  for  it,  it  attacked  the 
enemy  with  spirit  for  a  short  time,  but  it  was  soon  driven  back 
in  disorder  and  confusion,  Colonel  Savage's  regiment  retreating 
with  it.  . 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  105 

The  field  officers,  Colonels  Savage,  Carter,  Chester,  Anderson, 
and  Major  Cotter,  all  distinguished  themselves  by  the  coolness 
and  courage  displayed  upon  the  field,  and  greatly  contributed  to 
the  success  achieved  by  their  respective  commands,  by  the  skill 
with  which  they  managed  and  maneuvered  them 

We  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  many  gallant  officers  and  brave 
men,  who  fell  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  on  the  field 
of  battle.  Captain  L.  N.  Savage,  acting  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
Captain  Womack,  acting  major  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  were 
:Sfeve-rely,  if  not  mortally,  wounded,  and  Captain  Spurlock,  of  the 
same  regiment,  an  excellent  officer  and  most  estimable  gentle- 
man, was  killed The  long  list  of  casualties  shows  how 

closely  the  field  was  contested,  and  how  bravely  the  regiment 
held  its  important  position  on  the  most  critical  part  of  the  battle- 
field. 

REPORT  OF  COLONEL  JOHN  H.  SAVAGE. 

JANUARY  8,  1863. 

SIR: — The  following  report  of  the  conduct  of  the  Sixteenth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment  at  the  battle  before  Murfreesboro,  December  31, 
1862,  is  respectfully  submitted: 

When  the  advance  was  ordered,  my  regiment  being  the  right 
of  Cheatham's  division,  I  was  ordered  by  General  Donelson 
•(through  his  aid,  Captain  Bradford)  to  move  along  the  railroad, 
put  two  companies  to  its  right  and  eight  on  its  left,  taking  the 
guide  to  the  right.  The  advance  was  made  under  a  heavy  can- 
nonade, and  the  line  of  battle  and  direction  maintained,  although 
.serious  obstructions  impeded  the  march.  The  eight  companies 
to  the  left  advanced  between  the  railroad  and  the  ttirnpike,  in  front 
of  the  Cowan  House,  without  the  slightest  protection,  engaging 
a  battery  and  the  enemy's  infantry  in  the  woods,  at  a  distance  of 
less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  The  companies  to  the 
right  advanced  through  a  stalk-field  to  the  edge  of  a  cotton  patch. 
Here  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  at  short  range,  from  a 
line  extending  to  the  right  as  far  as  I  could  see.  This  killed 
Captain  Spurlock,  who  fell  while  leading  his  men  in  the  most 
gallant  manner. 

At  this  moment  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  without  the  ex- 
pected support  on  my  left,  and  that  the  line  had  divided  and  gone 


106    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

off  in  that  direction.  My  men  shot  the  horses  and  gunners  of 
the  battery  in  front,  but  I  could  not  advance  without  being  out- 
flanked and  captured  by  the  enemy  on  my  right.  I,  therefore, 
ordered  them  to  halt  and  fire.  In  a  few  moments  mv  acting 
lieutenant-colonel,  ,L.  N.  Savage,  fell  by  my  side  supposed  mor- 
tally wounded,  and  my  acting  major.  Captain  J.  J.  Womack.  had 
his  right  arm  badly  broken. 

There  were  batteries  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  railroad  which 
literally  swept  the  ground.  The  men  maintained  the  fight  against 
superior  numbers  with  great  spirit  and  obstinacy.  The  left  -coiti- 
panies  being  very  near  and 'without  any  protection,  sustained  a 
heavy  loss.  Thirty  men  were  left  dead  upon  the  spot  where  thev 
halted,  dressed  in  perfect  line  of  battle.  It  was,  on  the  day  follow- 
ing, a  sad  spectacle,  speaking  more  eloquently  for  the  discipline 
and  courage  of  the  men  than  anv  words  I  could  employ. 

Here  the  Thirty-ninth  North  Carolina  came  up  in  my  rear, 
and  I  ordered  it  into  line  of  battle  on  my  right,  but  before  it  got 
into  position  the  lieutenant-colonel  was  shot  down  and  was  car- 
ried from  the  field.  Under  the  command  of  Captain ,  it 

continued  under  my  command  and  did  good  service  until  driven 
from  this  position,  after  which  I  lost  sight  of  it. 

Seeing  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  crossing  a  field  to  my  right 
and  rear,  I  ordered  the  line  to  fall  back  to  the  river,  and  formed 
two  lines  to  the  front  and  right.  To  cover  this  space  the  men 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers.  I  also  ordered  formed  a  portion 
of  Blythe's  Mississippi  regiment  that  had  collected  near  the  rail- 
road, and  was  joined  by  Lieutenants  J.  J.  Williamson  and  T. 
W.  McMurry,  Fifty-first  Regiment,  with  three  companies,  who 
continued  with  me  and  did  good  service.  This  force  checked 
and  drove  back  the  enemy  advancing  up  the  river,  and  a  column 
that  attempted  to  cut  off  my  whole  party  along  the  railroad. 

Lieutenant  R.  B.  Anderson,  of  the  Sixteenth,  a  valuable  offi- 
cer, while  directing  the  skirmishers,  was  dangerously  wounded 
and  carried  under  the  river  bank  by  privates  Thompson  and  Ad- 
cock,  all  of  whom  were  captured  by  the  enemy  in  his  subsequent 
advance. 

When  Adams's  brigade  advanced  I  drew  back  my  little  force 
to  let  it  move  to  the  front,  which  it  did  in  gallant  style,  but  only 
for  a  short  distance,  when  it  broke  and  fled  in  confusion.  Most 
of  the  men  I  had  been  controlling  moved  with  it. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  107 

I  collected  the  men  of  the  Sixteenth  and  Fifty-first  and  moved 
to  the  front,  en  echelon,  of  Chalmers's  position,  and  remained 
during  the  heavy  cannonade  on  the  enemy.  While  here  two  of 
my  men  were  killed  by  a  shell. 

I  afterward  moved,  in  connection  with  Colonel  Stanton.  near 
the  burnt  gin -house,  and  halting  the  regiment,  went  on  foot  to 
my  first  line  of  battle.  About  dark  I  sent  a  party  after  the  'bod  v 
of  Captain  Spurlock,  which  captured  a  Yankee  captain  from  his 
lines. 

I  claim  for  my  command  great  gallantry  in  action;  that  it  en- 
gaged and  held  in  check  superior  forces  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
attempting  to  turn  our  right  forces,  that  afterward  drove  Adams's 
and  Preston's  brigades. 

My  flag-bearer,  Sergeant  Maberry,  was  disabled  early  in  the 
charge.  The  flag  was  afterward  borne  by  private  Womack,  who- 
was  also  wounded.  The  flag-staff  was  broken  and  hit  with  balls 
in  three  places — the  flag  literally  shot  to  pieces.  The  fragments 
were  brought  to  me  at  midnight. 

I  carried  about  400  officers  and  men  into  action.  The  killed 
amounted  to  36 — the  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  to  205,  a  list 
of  which  is  forwarded.  My  men  did  not  strip  or  rob  the  dead. 

The  conduct  of  my  recruits  was  most  honorable.  Many  of 
them  fell  in  the  front  rank  beside  the  veteran  soldier  of  the  Six- 
teenth. It  is  difficult  to  make  distinction  where  all  act  well. 
While  others  deserve  nobly,  I  feel  that  I  ought  not  to  fail  to- 
notice  the  courage  and  good  conduct  of  private  Hackett,  whom 
I  placed  in  command  of  the  company  after  the  fall  of  Captain 
Spurlock. 

I  am,  Major,  very  respectfully,  JOHX  H.  SAVAGE, 

Colonel  Commanding'  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 

Major  J.  G.  MARTIN,  A.  A.  G. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Vol- 
unteers in  the  engagement  before  Mtirfreesboro,  as 
shown  by  the  report  of  Thomas  B.  Porter,  Acting 
Adjutant  of  the  regiment  at  the  time  of,  and  during> 
the  battle,  December  31,  1862: 


io8    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


FIELD    AND    STAFF. 

Dangerously  Wounded — Captain  L.  N.  Savage,  Acting  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel; Captain  J.  J.  Womack,  Acting  Major. 

COMPANY    A. 

Killed — Sergeant  J.  H.  Warren;  Privates  E.  League,  F.  G. 
Kersey,  Lee  Patterson.  Wounded — First  Lieutenant  R.  B.  An- 
derson, Corporals  John  A.  Moore,  R.  M.  Martin;  Privates  W. 
A.  Hallum,  John  Mason,  dangerous;  S.  Anderson,  M.  T.  Dozier, 
J.  A.  Briggs,  Isaac  Cantrell,  Peter  Cantrell,  A.  J.  Kersey, 
T.  Parsley,  slight.  Missing—  Second  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Witt, 
Sergeant  J.  R.' Thompson;  Privates  W.  E.  Adcock,  John  Can- 
trell, L.  D.  Cantrell,  T.  M.  Hooper,  T.  J.  Harper,  E.  Lockhart. 

COMPANY    B. 

Wounded — F.  M.  Church,  T.  H.  Douglas,  mortally;  James 
Fuller,  W.  B.  Campbell,  L.  P.  Campbell,  severe;  W.  C.  King, 
slight. 

COMPANY    C. 

Killed—  Captain  D.  C.  Spurlock.  Wounded—  Privates  B.  D. 
Bybee,  mortally;  T.  M.  Brown,  J.  K.  P.  Martin,  severely;  S.  H. 
Alexander,  R.  H.  Henderson,  D.  W.  King,  M.  D.  Smith,  J.  J. 
Hensley,  J.  W.  Smith,  James  Hobbs,  R.  W.  Morrow,  slight. 

COMPANY  D. 

Killed—  Priyates  M.  S.  Edwards,  S.  Gribble,  A.  P.  Gribble,  A. 
J.  Gribble.  W.  Perry,  James  Rowland,  W.  F.  Smith.  Wounded 
— Walter  Cope,  J.  P.  Douglas,  J.  J.  Higginbotham,  Thomas  Hut- 
son,  J.  S.  McGee,  Richmond  McGregor,  J.  K.  P.  Nichols,  B.  M. 
Rowland,  Lycurgus  Smith,  J.  J.  Templeton,  W.  J.  Ware,  T.  F. 
West,  severe;  Second  Lieutenant  J.  P.  A.  Hennessee,  Brevet  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  F.  M.  York,  Sergeant  T.  F.  Martin;  Privates 
W.  B.  Christian,  S.  C.  Gribble,  J.  A.  Gribble,  A.  Higginbotham, 
J.  D.  Lusk,  John  McGregor,  R.  G.  Martin,  W.  M.  Moulder,  W. 
T.  Perry,  John  Quick,  G.  W.  Somers,  J.  B.  Smith,  J.  Templeton, 
slight.  Missing — J.  F.  Moulder,  W.  H.  Edwards. 

COMPANY  E. 

Killed — Sergeant  Michael  Mauzy;  Privates  David  Bonner, 
Elias  Womack.  Wounded — Private  A.  Douglas,  Corporal  Van- 
hooser.  Corporal  James  Kirby,  mortal;  First  Lieutenant  Jesse 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  109 

Walling,  Color  Sfergeant  W.  T.  Mabry;  Private  G.  X.  Clark, 
severe;  Sergeants  J.  B.  Womack,  A.  M.  Mason;  Privates  Luke 
Purser,  John  Purser,  Isaiah  Moffitt,  G.  M.  Wallace,  A.  J.  Van- 
hooser,  J.  S.  Womack,  John  Green,  Randolph  Laurence,  Will- 
iam Laurence,  Lawson  Cantrell,  slight. 

COMPANY  F. 

Killed — Sergeant  Jacob  Choate,  Corporal  John  Laycock;  Pri- 
vates James  Murray,  John  Brown,  James  Noe,  John  Choate,  Jo- 
seph Y.  Ballard.  Wounded — First  Lieutenant  W.  W.  Wallace, 
Fifth  Sergeant  John  H.  Nichols;  Private  J.  Y.  Carroll,  severe; 
First  Sergeant  T.  C.  Bledsoe,  Corporal  C.  A.  Ballard:  Privates 
James  Pleasant,  William  Webb,  John  Haggard,  R.  F.  Owens, 
J.  F.  Owens,  W.  N.  Caruthers,  James  Mathis,  slight. 

COMPANY  G. 

Killed—  Corporal  Ben  Huchins;  Privates  J.  P.  Cantrell,  R.  P. 
Moore.  Wounded — John  Fisher,  T.  L.  Hodges,  mortal;  P.  B. 
Franks,  W.  Hasty,  J.  B.  Moore,  severe;  Second  Lieutenant  A. 
Fisk,  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant  James  Fisher,  Corporal  John 
Meggerson,  Corporal  A.  Perry;  Privates  John  Atnip,  T.  A.  Cot- 
ton, M.  D.  Fisher,  E.  M.  Greenfield,  A.  Huchins,  R.  B.  Love, 
James  Hasty,  J.  M.  Pollard,  John  Stricklin,  T.  Wiggins,  J.  W. 

Wright,  A.  J.  Youngblood.     Missing — J.  L.  Britton. 

• 

COMPANY    H. 

Killed — Corporal  J.  R.  Jones;  Privates  John  Estes,  H.  Pen- 
nington,  Frank  Smith,  William  Tallent.  Wounded — First  Ser- 
geant John  Hughes;  Privates  T.  J.  Davis,  James  Jones,  severe; 
Captain  J.  M.  Parks;  Privates  John  Brown,  J.  N.  Clendennon, 
Jo  Fern,  M.  Hayes,  Aaron  Hughes,  A.  J.  Jordan,  Ed  Parsley,  W. 
A.  Russell,  W.  S.  Bullen,  slight.  Missing — John  Davis. 

COMPANY    I. 

Killed — Privates  Henderson  Rhodes,  Peter  Baker,  Marion 
Priest.  Wounded — J.  C.  Moore,  Isham  Hollansworth,  W.  J. 
Underwood,  mortal;  Sergeants  N.  B.  Hambrick,  S.  R.  York; 
Privates  Thomas  Rawlings,  Sam  Porter,  William  T.  Worthing- 
ton,  severe;  Sergeant  Sam  Worthington,  W.  R.  Paine;  Privates 
S.  L.  Fleming,  C.  W.  Mooneyham,  Sol  Porter,  G.  W.  Stype, 
J.  M.  Thomasson,  Joshua  Worley,  Shelby  Walling,  slight. 


no          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

COMPANY    K, 

Killed — Elisha  Martin,  Marshall  Capps.  Wounded  —  Josh 
Worldley,  John  Castile,  T.  J.  Templeton,  mortal;  Second  Lieu- 
tenant William  Lowrv;  Privates  A.  D.  Nash,  Sylvester  Hum- 
phrevs,  James  Garland,  severe;  Sergeants  W.  G.  Simms,  J.  W. 
Wil>on,  D.  L.  Hensley;  Corporals  S.  M.  Snodgrass,  Ben  Lack; 
Privates  Boyle  Paslv,  John  Bathurs,  Gardner  Green,  Elbert 
Capps.  Missing — William  Hodges,  J.  W.  White. 

Recapitulation — Killed,  36;  wounded,  155;  missing,  14 — total, 
205.  The  regiment  mustered  360  men  for  duty  at  the  beginning 
of  the  action. 

After  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  General  Bragg 
withdrew  his  army  to  Tullahoma.  and  Cheatham's 
division  was  ordered  to  Shelbyville,  where  it  did  noth- 
ing during  the  remainder  of  the  winter  and  spring, 
except  build  fortifications.  Affairs  in  both  armies  re- 
mained quiet  till  June  following. 

During  the  following  spring  General  Donelson  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general  and  assigned  to 
duty  in  East  Tennessee.  Colonel  Savage  was  con- 
gidered  the  senior  colonel  of  the  brigade,  and  of  un- 
questioned ability,  and  his  men  thought  he  was  the 
one  to  be  promoted.  They  were  surprised  to  see  one 
whom  they  thought  to  be  a  junior  in  rank  and  age 
placed  over  him  in  the  command  of  the  brigade.  This 
was  an  unlooked-for  indignity,  which  Colonel  Savage 
resented  severely,  and  accordingly  sent  in  his  resigna- 
tion, which  was  accepted  in  due  time,  and  he  accord- 
ingly bid  adieu  to  his  regiment  in  the  following'  address: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT     } 

TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS,  t 

March  6,  1863.     ) 

Soldiers  of  the  Sixteenth — Mv  Friends  and  Companions  in 
Arms: — Nothing  but  a  sense  of  duty  could  have  forced  me  to 
the  step  which  I  have  taken.  When  the  government  selected  a 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  1 1 1 

junior  to  command  me,  it  thereby  decided  that  I  had  not  done 
well  in  the  command  of  my  regiment.  Not  tired  of  the  war  or 
less  devoted  to  the  cause,  but  it  is  improper  that  I  should  con- 
tinue in  a  service  where  equality  is  denied  me.  It  is  true  I  did 
not  ask  the  government  for  promotion,  neither  did  I  ask  for  the 
commanders  thev  gave  me.  In  the  occurrence  which  forces  me 
to  retire  mav  be  seen  the  hand  of  a  distinguished  politician,  who 
stands  almost  as  high  in  public  favor  as  Andrew  Johnson  once 
did,  and  whose  evil  offices  toward  me  are  as  old  as  my  races 
with  Pickett  and  Stokes. 

If  selfishness  or  ambition  controlled  my  conduct,  I  should  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war  have  asked  to  have  been  made  a  gen- 
eral; but  believing  one  good  regiment  worth  many  brigadiers,  de- 
votion to  the  cause,  and  gratitude  to  my  old  friends,  induced  me 
to  take  their  children  under  my  charge  to  protect  their  lives  and 
honor,  and  to  teach  them  to  be  soldiers. 

As  a  regiment,  I  am  proud  of  you;  your  friends  at  home  are, 
and  your  State  has  cause  so  to  be.  If  not  the  first,  your  deeds 
upon  the  field  proclaim  you  the  equal  of  any  regiment  in  the 
service.  In  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  you  were  never  off 
duty,  and  none  dare  say  that  any  have  done  better.  In  the  skir- 
mishes around  Corinth,  you  proved  yourselves  better  soldiers 
and  marksmen  than  the  enemy:  and  when  the  retreat  com- 
menced, you  remained  three  days  upon  the  Tuscumbia,  within 
-ix  miles  of  Corinth,  confronted  by  the  enemy,  and  became  the 
rear  of  the  column,  an  honor  that  you  have  passed  in  silence, 
while  it  has  been  claimed  in  publications  for  several  commands, 
brigadiers,  and  colonels. 

On  the  bloody  field  of  Perrvville,  far  in  advance  of  others,  you 
began  the  attack  on  the  part  of  Cheatham's  division,  which,  fol- 
lowed up  by  the  resistless  courage  of  our,  brothers  of  this,  Stew- 
art's, and  Maney's  brigades,  forever  dispelled  the  cloud  of  slan- 
der and  detraction  that  had  darkened  the  fair  fame  of  the  sol- 
dierv  of  our  State.  The  good  people  south  of  you  never  doubted 
the  courage  of  Tennesseans,  and  henceforth  cowards  and  mis- 
creants will  not  dare  assail  them. 

At  Murfreesboro,  you  were  the  extreme  right  of  our  line  of 
attack,  and  engaged  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  near  the  center, 
while  your  brigade  marched  to  the  left.  Thus  isolated  and  with- 


ii2          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

• 

out  protection,  at  a  cost  of  more  than  half  your  numbers,  vou 
held  in  check  for  three  hours  the  enemy's  left  wing,  and  it  is  be- 
lieved, but  for  misfortune  not  your  own,  you  would  have  main- 
tained yovir  ground  to  the  last. 

I  mingle  my  tears  with  yours  for  the  heroic  dead,  our  brothers 
in  arms,  who  sleep  upon  the  fields  of  Perryville  and  Murfrees- 
boro.  We  never  can  forget  them,  and  they  deserve  to  be  remem- 
bered by  the  country. 

If  in  my  absence  slander  shall  assail  me,  let  no  man  believe 
that  I  can  cease  to  care  for  your  welfare  or  the  rights  of  the 
Southern  people.  Character  is  worth  more  than  monev.  Con- 
tinue in  the  pathway  of  honor  and  duty,  and  if  hereafter  you 
shall  meet  the  foe,  emulate  the  deeds  of  former  days,  that  vour 
friends  at  home  may  still  be  proud  of  vou. 

My  resignation  having  been  accepted,  I  relinquish  my  com- 
mand to  the  senior  officer  present,  and  bid  you  farewell,  hoping 
that  the  Great  Spirit  may  guide  and  protect  you  through  the  per- 
ils of  the  future.  JOHX  H.  SAVAGE, 

Colonel  Sixteenth  Tennessee. 

The  resignation  of  Colonel  Savage  having  been  ac- 
cepted, the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon 
Lieutenant-colonel  D.  M.  Donnell,  who  now  became 
colonel  of  the  regiment  by  promotion.  Captain  D. 
T.  Brown,  of  Company  K,  was  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
Major  P.  H.  Coffee,  having  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health,  Captain  H.  H.  Dillard,  of  Company  F,  became 
major  of  the  regiment.  Colonel  Donnell  was  captain 
of  Company  C  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  be- 
came lieutenant- colanel  of  the  regiment  at  its  reorgan- 
ization at  Corinth.  In  private  life  he  was  a  teacher 
by  profession,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  was 
President  of  Cumberland  Female  College,  at  McAlinn- 
ville,  Tenn,  As  a  soldier,  he  had  no  previous  military 
record;  as  an  officer,  he  was  a  strict  and  rigid  disci- 
plinarian, and  as  a  gentleman,  he  was  kind  and  gener- 
ous. He  was  warmly  and  conscientiously  devoted  to 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  113 

the  cause  he  had  vowed  to  defend,  and  to  the  various 
duties  his  office  imposed.  He  was  zealously  devoted 
to  the  comfort,  the  welfare,  and  efficiency  of  his  men, 
and  was  thoroughly  alive  to  their  interests  in  every 
respect.  The  promotion  gave  satisfaction  to  the  men 
of  the  regiment,  who  would  have  elected  him  to  the 
position  had  opportunity  offered.  They  had  great 
confidence  in  the  ability  and  integrity  of  Colonel  Don- 
nell,  who  now  became  Colonel  Savage's  successor,  and 
they  accorded  to  the  new  commander  the  same  respect 
and  obedience  that  had  been  so  faithfully  accorded  to 
his  illustrious  predecessor. 

The  principal  portion  of  Bragg's  army  was  now  at 
Tullahoma,  though  Cheatham's  division  and  the  greater 
portion  of  Folk's  corps  were  at  Shelbyville.  The 
army  devoted  its  time  to  drilling  and  fortifying  in  front 
of  the  Federal  approaches.  During  the  latter  part  of 
March  the  whole  Confederate  army  was  concentrated 
at  Tullahoma,  and  remained  till  the  first  of  May, 
when  they  returned  to  Shelbyville.  About  June  20, 
the  Federals  began  their  forward  movement,  and  the 
Confederates  retired  to  Tullahoma  and  took  position 
behind  the  fortifications  in  front  of  the  place.  Gen- 
eral Bragg  expected  at  first  that  Rosecrans  would  at- 
tack him  here,  but  he  subsequently  learned  that  it  was 
the  intention  of  the  Federal  general  to  flank  the  posi- 
tion, and  accordingly  the  Confederates  withdrew  on 
the  night  of  July  i. 

On  the  morning  of  July  2,  the  old  Sixteenth  passed 
by  their  original  camp  of  rendezvous  at  Camp  Harris, 
near  Estill  Springs.  Two  years  had  elapsed  since 
their  departure  from  the  place  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war.  The  place  looked  natural  to  the  boys,  but  the 


ii4          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

changes  in  the  ranks  of  the  companies  had  been  so 
great!  How  many  had  been  left  behind  on  the  battle- 
fields of  Perry ville  and  Murfreesboro!  How  many 
had  died  of  disease!  The  casualties  of  these  two 
years  had  been  great  indeed,  and  the  men  looked  sad 
as  they  passed  by  their  first  camping-ground. 

The  Confederates  continued  their  retreat  across  the 
Tennessee  river,  and  arrived  at  Chattanooga  early  in 
July.  During  this  retreat  Vicksburg  had  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  by  which  the  whole  Missis- 
sippi river  was  now  open  to  the  enemy  from  its  source 
to  the  Gulf.  Other  points  had  fallen  into  the  enemy's 
hands.  The  Confederate  soldiers  began  to  grow  de- 
jected at  the  loss  of  so  many  strongholds,  especially 
when  they  realized  that  a  place  once  in  the  hands  of 
the  Federals  was  permanently  lost.  It  seemed  that 
Confederate  history  at  this  time  was  fast  becoming  a 
catalogue  of  reverses,  and  the  Confederate  soldier  was 
growing  weary  of  the  many  and  prominent  additions 
that  were  being  constantly  made  to  the  list. 

Beset  with  these  feelings,  the  Confederates  upon 
their  arrival  at  Chattanooga  encamped  upon  the  same 
ground  which  they  occupied  the  year  before  on  the 
eve  of  their  campaign  into  Kentucky.  The  men,  dis- 
couraged by  so  many  reverses,  had  begun  to  desert  the 
Confederate  ranks,  and  General  Bragg  had  been  pun- 
ishing the  evil  with  the  severest  penalties  known  to 
the  Army  Regulations.  Quite  a  number  of  soldiers 
had  been  court-martialed  and  shot  while  the  army  was 
at  Tullahoma  and  Shelbyville.  These  victims  were 
principally  from  the  Gulf  States,  though  a  few  were 
from  the  border  States.  When  the  army  arrived  at 
'Chattanooga  there  were  quite  a  number  under  sentence 
and  awaiting  the  day  set  for  their  execution. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  115 

General  Bragg  rested  his  army  at  Chattanooga  dur- 
ing the  months  of  July  and  August,  during  which 
time  he  strengthened  the  fortifications  about  the  place. 
As  important  military  movements  were  expected  in 
the  near  future,  the  Confederate  leader  issued  orders 
to  liberate  all  who  had  charges  preferred  against  them, 
except  those  under  sentence  of  death,  and  recom- 
mended Executive  clemency  in  their  behalf.  The 
Confederate  authorities  heeded  his  recommendation  in 
general,  and  the  sentence  of  death  was  revoked  in 
many  instances  on  the  very  eve  of  the  hour  set  for  the 
execution  of  the  sentence,  and  the  culprits  were  re- 
stored to  their  respective  companies.  Among  the 
beneficiaries  of  this  Executive  clemency  was  private 
Hugh  Whitehead,  of  Company  F — a  resident  of  Put- 
nam county — the  only  culprit  that  was  ever  known 
from  the  ranks  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 
This  man  was  partially  demented  and  seemed  to  be 
utterly  ignorant  of  the  consequences  of  desertion. 

General  Bragg  remained  at  Chattanooga  and  the  Fed- 
erals perfected  their  plans  of  operations.  Longstreet's 
corps,  consisting  of  Hood's  and  Hill's  divisions,  had 
been  ordered  to  Bragg  from  Lee's  army,  but  had  not 
yet  arrived. 


u6         THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


CHAPTER    IV. 

BATTLES  OF  CHICKAMAUGA  AND  MIS- 
SIONARY RIDGE. 

On  September  6,  the  advance  of  Rosecrans's  army 
appeared  before  Chattanooga  and  commenced  shelling 
the  town.  The  people  were  at  church  at  the  time  and 
the  Federals  threw  their  shells  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
church-house,  to  the  great  consternation  of  the  wor- 
shipers and  the  citizens  in  general.  The  Federals 
placed  a  picket  line  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Ten- 
nessee about  Chattanooga,  which  opened  fire  upon  the 
lower  part  of  town,  about  the  ferry,  and  wounded  the 
ferryman  in  his  boat  on  the  morning  of  September  6. 
General  Bragg  placed  a  picket  line  along  the  south 
bank  in  front,  and  above,  Chattanooga,  to  the  mouth 
of  Chickamauga  Creek.  On  the  night  of  Septem- 
ber 7,  the  writer  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  down  the 
embankment,  a  distance  of  fifty  feet,  while  operating 
upon  this  picket  line.  By  good  luck  there  was  a  raft 
of  pine  logs  anchored  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  which 
circumstance  prevented  him  from  receiving  a  good 
ducking,  as  well  as  a  severe  fall.  Falling  upon  the 
rudder  of  the  raft,  it  swung  round  and  landed  him 
upon  the  raft  in  safety  and  dry  shod.  The  darkness  of 
the  night  being  intense,  this  accidental  and  improvised 
trapeze  performance  was  not  beheld  by  the  Federals, 
who  occupied  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river.  The 
embankment,  which  was  an  angle  of  sixty  degrees, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  117 

was  quickly  ascended  by  pulling  up  by  the  canes  and 
brush.  In  a  few  minutes  the  top  was  gained  and  no- 
body hurt. 

The  Federals  kept  up  the  bombardment  of  Chat- 
tanooga. General  Bragg  now  resolved  to  withdraw 
from  Chattanooga,  and  after  drawing  the  Federals  to 
the  mountains  of  North  Georgia,  his  plan  was  to  turn 
upon  them  and  defeat  them.  The  sequel  will  show 
how  well  his  plans  were  matured,  and  how  far  they 
were  successful. 

With  Longstreet's  corps  added  to  Bragg's  forces, 
he  now  had  an  army  about  equal  to  the  army  of  Rose- 
crans,  and  the  Confederates  were  well  acquainted  with 
the  country.  This  gave  the  Confederates  great  hope 
of  success.  On  September  8,  Bragg  withdrew  his 
army  from  Chattanooga  and  retreated  to  Lee  and  Gor- 
don's Mill,  on  the  upper  waters  of  Chickamauga  Creek. 
Here  he  spent  September  9.  A  column  of  the  enemy 
having  moved  down  McLemore's  Cove,  Bragg  moved 
from  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill  to  Lafayette,  Ga.,  on  the 
loth,  and  on  the  I2th  retured  in  the  direction  of  Rock 
Spring  Church.  On  the  night  of  September  12,  the 
army  was  on  the  march,  and  stopped  in  the  road  for 
a  while.  Being  late  in  the  night  and  the  men  very 
tired,  they  lay  down  along  the  roadside  and  were  soon 
asleep.  A  caison  of  the  battery  getting  out  of  order 
through  the  day,  it  had  been  stopped  to  be  repaired, 
and  was  now  hurrying  up  to  rejoin  the  battery.  In  its 
hurry  it  missed  the  road  and  came  clattering  through 
the  bushes  where  the  boys  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment 
were  sleeping.  The  drivers  were  hurrying  and  yelling 
at  their  horses,  and  the  noise  and  clatter  being  so  vio- 
lent and  sudden,  the  men  of  the  regiment  began  to 
arouse  from  their  slumbers,  and  rushed  pell-mell  into 


n8          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

the  road,  over  the  fences,  and  a  general  stampede  was 
the  consequence.  Those  who  slept  soundest  were  run 
over  by  the  general  rabble.  Order  was  quickly  re- 
stored as  soon  as  the  men  became  awake,  and  the 
march  was  resumed.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Rock 
Spring  Church  on  the  i3th. 

The  Confederates  maneuvered  from  one  position  to 
another  during  the  i/j-th,  i5th,  :6th,  iyth,  and  iSth  of 
September.  On  the  evening  of  the  iSth,  General 
Bragg's  order  was  read  to  his  troops  announcing  that 
he  would  engage  the  enemy  on  the  following  day. 
On  the  morning  of  the  i9th,  the  army  was  drawn  up 
and  the  order  of  battle  established.  Forrest  had  taken 
position  on  the  right,  Walker's  division  formed  on 
Forrest's  left,  Cheatham's  division  formed  on  the  left 
of  Walker,  each  division  swinging  round  from  column 
into  line  by  brigades.  In  this  manner  the  engagement 
extended  to  the  left.  The  battle  opened  about  2  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  September  19,  1863. 
Wright's  brigade  was  on  the  left  of  the  division,  and 
the  Sixteenth  Regiment  was  on  the  left  of  the  brigade, 
near  Carnes's  battery.  General  Wright  misconstrued 
the  order  that  announced  the  position  of  a  front  line 
of  Confederates,  with  caution  not  to  fire  into  it.  With 
this  understanding  the  brigade  swung  into  line,  with 
the  battery  on  its  left.  The  battery  rushed  right  into 
the  Federal  lines,  and,  losing  all  its  horses  and  half  its 
men,  was  silenced.  The  brigade  also  rushed  immedi- 
ately into  the  line  of  the  enemy,  and  received  a  broad- 
side from  his  front  line  before  the  true  situation  of  affairs 
was  understood.  A  brisk  and  spirited  engagement  en- 
sued. The  ground  was  covered  with  an  undergrowth 
of  pines  and  brushwood.  To  the  left  was  a  slight  val- 
ley, which  was  covered  with  a  heavy  timber  growth, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  119 

east  of  which  were  the  hills  of  the  north  bank  of  Chick- 
amauga  Creek.  This  valley  made  a  curve  and  dis- 
charged its  waters  into  the  creek.  Longstreet  ap- 
peared at  the  top  of  this  hill  about  2  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  having  marched  from  the  railroad  during  the 
day.  Hood's  division,  of  Longstreet's  corps,  formed 
on  Cheatham's  left,  and  opened  a  tremendous  assault 
upon  the  enemy's  lines,  which  made  them  waver  at 
first  and  finally  give  way.  This  caused  the  Federal 
lines  to  swing  round  at  this  place  to  some  extent,  and 
Carnes's  battery  was  soon  recovered.  The  engage- 
ment still  extended  to  the  left  during  the  evening  of 
the  i9th,  and  before  night,  was  general  all  along  the 
line. 

On  Sunday  morning,  September  20,  the  battle  was 
resumed  by  demonstrations  at  different  points  of  the 
line.  Rosecrans  was  seeking  the  most  vulnerable  point 
on  Bragg's  lines,  while  Bragg  was  maneuvering  his 
forces  for  the  same  purpose  on  Rosecrans's  lines.  The 
forenoon  was  thus  spent  in  maneuvering  by  each  army, 
with  experimental  assaults  from  each  side  at  different 
parts  of  the  field.  Bragg  finally  succeeded  in  finding  the 
point  on  Rosecrans's  line  which  he  resolved  to  carry, 
and  massed  his  troops  accordingly.  The  point  had 
been  fortified  by  the  Federals  during  the  night,  and 
being  considered  strong,  Rosecrans  had  drawn  off 
many  of  his  troops  from  it  to  maneuver  at  other  points, 
till  this  point  was  comparatively  weakened  in  num- 
bers. As  soon  as  Rosecrans  had  penetrated  Bragg's 
designs  on  this  point,  he  began  to  strengthen  the  posi- 
tion by  throwing  -other  troops  irpon  it.  This  position 
of  the  Federal  lines  was  V  shaped,  with  its  point  to 
the  Confederates.  Bragg  struck  this  position,  and  his 
first  assault  failed.  Rosecrans  was  now  rushing  every 


\ 
120          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

available  man  to  the  support  of  this,  the  key  to  his 
whole  position,  and  which  must  not  be  given  up.  The 
Confederate  general  had  proven  himself  the  superior 
in  the  art  of  maneuvering. 

In  the  second  assault  Breckinridge  struck  the  right 
wing  of  the  Federal  stronghold  and  the  line  was 
broken.  The  exulting  and  victorious  Confederates 
rushed  over  the  fortifications.  This  part  of  the  Fed- 
eral lines  not  only  yielded  the  position,  but  its  wings 
were  now  driven  in,  and  in  one  confused  mass  the 
flower  of  Rosecrans's  army,  thus  jumbled  together, 
threw  down  their  arms  and  retreated  pell-mell  in  the 
direction  of  Chattanooga,  eighteen  miles  distant.  The 
Confederates  had  gained  a  decisive  victory  and  were 
masters  of  the  field.  The  Federals  had  not  only  been 
defeated,  but  had  been  driven  from  the  field  in  a  con- 
fusion that  partook  of  all  the  features  of  a  rout.  The 
backbone  of  the  Federal  line  had  been  broken.  Rose- 
crans's army  had  been  cut  in  two,  its  center  routed,  its 
wings  exposed,  and  the  coolness  and  skill  of  Thomas 
alone  saved  its  remnant  from  capture.  Rosecrans  re- 
treated in  disorder  to  Chattanooga  on  the  night  of  the 
2Oth,  and  the  victorious  Confederates  followed  on  the 
2  ist,  and  took  possession  of  Missionary  Ridge  and 
Lookout  Mountain.  On  the  morning  of  September 
22,  General  Bragg  moved  his  army  to  the  suburbs  of 
Chattanooga,  and  Rosecrans  was  hemmed  in  the  place, 
with  his  communications  cut  off,  both  by  river  and 
railroad.  The  two  armies  thus  confronted  each  other 
for  two  months. 

The  battle  of  Chickamauga  had  been  a  severe  and 
desperate  one,  and  the  losses  had  been  severe  on  both 
sides.  In  this  battle  Brigadier-general  Preston  Smith 
was  killed,  also  Brigadier-general  Helm,  of  Kentucky, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  121 

was  killed,  and  General  Hood  lost  a  leg  in  the  engage- 
ment of  Sunday  morning.  The  brigade  not  participat- 
ing in  the  action  of  September  20,  the  losses  of  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  were  not  so  severe  as  in  previous 
battles.  Captain  James  M.  Parks,  of  Company  H, 
was  killed  in  the  engagement  on  Saturday  evening. 
Captain  Parks  was  an  excellent  officer,  a  good  soldier, 
a  gentleman,  and  a  Christian.  He  was  beloved  by  his 

O  J 

comrades  and  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  mourned  by  his  comrades  in  arms,  his  relatives, 
and  friends.  All  who  knew  him  respected  and  hon- 
ored him  as  a  gentleman  of  unimpeachable  integrity 
and  sterling  merit.  Private  William  Hodges,  of  Com- 
pany F,  was  killed  in  Sunday's  fight,  and  private 
Gardner  Green,  of  Company  K,  lost  a  leg. 

After  the  Confederates  had  besieged  the  Federals  in 
Chattanooga,  matters  remained  quiet  in  both  armies 
till  November  following,  when  Rosecrans  was  super- 
seded by  Sherman,  who  raised  tire  siege,  and  Bragg 
retreated  to  Dalton,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  winter. 

The  Confederate  lines  now  extended  around  Chatta- 
nooga from  the  mouth  of  Chickamauga  Creek  above, 
to  Moccasin  Point  below,  the  town.  Rosecrans  was 
completely  besieged,  and  devoted  himself  to  fortifying 
his  lines,  as  an  attack  upon  the  town  by  the  Confed- 
erates was  expected  any  hour.  The  Confederate  pick- 
ets were  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's 
outposts.  Matters  remained  thus  from  day  to  day. 

General  Polk  was  relieved  of  his  command  shortly 
after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  Lieutenant-gen- 
eral D.  H.  Hill  was  placed  in  command  of  Polk's 
corps.  This  change  was  caused  by  some  misunder- 


122          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

standing  between  General  Polk  and  the  commander 
in  chief  on  the  morning  of  Sunday's  battle  at  Chicka- 
mauga.  General  Hill  made  a  good  corps  commander. 
General  Polk  was  assigned  to  duty  in  Mississippi. 

On  October  23,  Wright's  brigade  was  sent  to  Charles- 
ton, East  Tennessee,  by  way  of  Tyner  Station.  The 
object  of  this  move  was  to  rebuild  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Hiwassee  river,  and  to  guard  the  line  of  com- 
munication between  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville. 
Longstreet  was  detached  from  Bragg' s  army  at  Chat- 
tanooga and  sent  to  Knoxville.  Burnside  was  be- 
sieged at  Knoxville.  Affairs  remained  inactive  and 
monotonous  during  the  month  of  October  and  the 
greater  portion  of  November. 

The  Confederates  were  encourged  by  the  victory  at 
Chickamauga.  Every  effort  was  brought  to  bear  by 
the  Confederate  authorities,  to  strengthen  the  army 
and  to  encourage  the  troops.  Jeff.  Davis  visited  the 
army  and  made  a  speech  to  the  soldiers  on  the  night  of 
October  n.  It  was  thought  by  some  that  there  was  a 
remote  prospect  of  foreign  intervention  at  this  partic- 
ular juncture.  The  Federal  authorities  were  not  idle. 
Re- enforcements  were  forwarded  to  Chattanooga. 

On  November  23,  the  Federals  began  to  press  the 
Confederate  pickets  and  to  marshal  a  powerful  army 
in  the  Confederate  front.  Wright's  brigade  was  re- 
turned to  Missionary  Ridge  on  the  24th,  and  arrived 
on  the  right  wing  of  the  Confederate  lines  on  the 
morning  of  November  25,  near  the  mouth  of  Chicka- 
mauga Creek.  The  brigade  came  on  the  cars  and  the 
brigade  wagon  -  train  was  sent  through  without  an 
escort.  On  the  24th,  the  wagon-train  was  captured  by 
the  enemy  and  destroyed.  When  the  brigade  arrived 
at  the  north  end  of  Missionary  Ridge  on  the  morning 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  123 

of  November  25,  it  was  ordered  to  a  position  on  the 
extreme  right,  on  the  south  bank  of  Chickamauga 
Creek.  General  Wright  was  mistaken  in  the  position 
of  the  enemy,  who  were  posted  in  heavy  force  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  creek.  Before  the  troops  were 
aware  of  the  immediate  presence  of  an  enemy,  they 
received  a  volley  of  musketry  from  the  opposite  bank. 
LaFayette  Clark,  of  Company  D,  Sixteenth  Tennes- 
see Regiment,  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant  W.  C.  Wom- 
ack  was  severely  wounded. 

General  Wright  withdrew  his  brigade  out  of  range 
of  the  Federals,  who  had  the  advantage  of  position, 
and  established  his  lines  on  better  ground. 

The  Confederate  lines  were  now  pressed  at  all  points. 
Hooker  carried  the  Confederate  position  at  Lookout 
Mountain  on  the  left  in  the  forenoon,  and  the  Confed- 
erates had  withdrawn  to  the  brow  of  Missionary 
Ridge.  The  Federals  massed  their  forces  and  moved 
up  to  the  western  base.  The  engagement  continued 
through  the  afternoon  along  the  center,  while  all  was 
comparatively  quiet  on  the  flanks.  About  sundown 
the  Federals  prepared  for  a  desperate  assault  upon  the 
Confedei'ate  center,  and  massed  their  forces  at  the  foot 
of  the  ridge  at  a  place  known  as  Moore's  House.  Un- 
der a  heavy  cannonade,  they  began  the  ascent  of  the 
ridge.  The  Confederates  resisted  with  all  their  power, 
but  the  Federals  had  been  so  heavily  re-enforced,  and 
the  Confederates  had  been  weakened  by  the  absence 
of  Longstreet's  corps  and  other  troops  sent  to  different 
points,  until  the  defenses  on  the  brow  of  the  ridge  at 
many  places  were  a  mere  skirmish  line.  This  was  too 
weak  to  withstand  the  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy, 
which  now  came  up  the  hill  in  full  force.  The  fight 
raged  furiously  for  a  while,  but  the  Confederate  line 


124          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

was  broken  and  the  enemy  gained  the  summit  of  the 
ridge. 

General  Bragg  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and 
tried  to  rally  his  men  when  his  lines  gave  way.  Find- 
ing his  forces  inadequate  to  the  work  of  regaining  this 
part  of  the  line,  he  ordered  a  retreat.  The  Confeder- 
ate stores  at  Chickamauga  Station  were  destroyed  to 
prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  army  retreated  to  Ringgold.  From  this  point  the 
Confederates  continued  the  retreat  to  Dalton,  where 
they  remained  through  the  winter  and  early  spring 
months. 

General  Bragg  was  now  relieved  of  the  command 
of  the  army  and  his  place  was  filled  by  General  Joseph 
E.  Johnston,  who  became  a  great  favorite  with  the 
army.  The  soldiers  built  cabins  to  shelter  them- 
selves, and  in  a  short  time  the  whole  army  was  made 
comfortable  for  the  winter.  Furloughs  were  granted  to 
the  men  to  visit  their  homes,  and  a  general  quiet  reigned 
in  each  army  during  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

While  stationed  at  Dalton,  Jeff.  Davis  conceived  the 
idea  that  it  would  have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the 
army  to  intermix  troops  from  different  States  in  the 
different  commands.  This  caused  a  buzz  of  discontent 
among  the  Tennessee  troops.  By  this  arrangement, 
Cheatham's  division  was  to  be  changed  so  as  to  be  com- 
posed principally  of  troops  from  other  States.  The 
Tennessee  troops  were  unwilling  to  give  up  their  old 
division  commander,  who  was  equally  averse  to  the 
idea  of  giving  up  his  old  brigades  and  regiments.  In 
this  emergency  General  Johnston  sympathized  with 
the  Tennesseans,  and  succeeded  in  having  the  order 
revoked  before  it  was  put  to  a  practical  test. 

During  the  winter  there  was  very  little  done  in  mili- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  125 

tary  circles.  In  February  a  Federal  column  came  out 
from  Vicksburg  and  was  met  by  the  army  of  General 
Polk,  assisted  by  Forrest's  cavalry.  This  was  a  mere 
raid  that  came  out  as  far  as  Meridian  and  returned  to 
Vicksburg.  Johnston  sent  a  part  of  his  command  to 
assist  Polk.  As  soon  as  the  Federals  became  aware 
of  this  they  moved  out  on  Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  near 
Dalton.  Johnston  succeeded  in  driving  them  back. 
The  Federals  withdrew  from  Meridian  and  the  re-en- 
forcements from  Johnston's  army  returned  from  Me- 
ridian to  Dalton. 


126          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


CHAPTER    V. 

GEORGIA    CAMPAIGN— BATTLES  AROUND 
ATLANTA. 

The  Federal  authorities  now  resolved  to  concentrate 
the  bulk  of  their  Eastern  Army  upon  Richmond  and 
their  Western  Army  upon  Atlanta.  Grant  was  now 
made  commander  in  chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  with  head -quarters  with  the  Eastern  Army. 
Sherman  was  placed  in  command  of  the  army  that 
was  to  move  upon  Atlanta.  Each  army  moved  on  the 
same  day.  Sherman  moved  upon  Dalton  early  in 
Mav,  and  appeared  before  Rocky  Face  Ridge.  The 
Confederates  met  him  at  the  ridge,  and  a  lively  skir- 
mish was  kept  up  for  a  few  days,  until  'the  Federals 
succeeded  in  turning  Johnston's  left  flank  by  way  of 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  and  he  was  forced  to  fall  back  upon 
Resaca  on  the  night  of  May  13;  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  I4th  had  his  army  in  position  before  the  Feder- 
als came  up.  As  the  Federals  advanced  on  Resaca  on 
the  evening  of  May  14,  they  presented  a  grand  and  im- 
posing spectacle.  Their  forces  were  massed  into  three 
columns.  As  they  came  up  through  an  open  field 
their  ranks  closed  up  into  a  solid  phalanx,  and  appeared 
as  so  many  living  walls  of  blue.  Their  arms  glistened 
in  the  sunlight,  and  the  columns  advanced  as  steadily 
as  though  they  were  on  dress  parade.  The  artillery 
kept  pace  with  the  columns,  and  their  skirmish  lines 
advanced  in  front  at  their  regular  distance.  As  the 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  127 

columns  advanced,  the  Confederate  skirmish  lines 
withdrew  gradually,  and  kept  up  a  continual  fire  on 
their  retreat  until  the  Federals  arrived  at  the  foot  of  a 
long  hill  that  lay  parallel  to  the  Federal  lines.  At  this 
point  the  guns  from  the  fort  at  Resaca  poured  forth  a 
tremendous  shower  of  shot  and  shell  into  the  ranks  of 
the  advancing  Federals,  and  the  movement  was  per- 
emptorily checked.  The  Federal  artillery  was  quickly 
wheeled  into  position,  and  a  heavy  artillery  duel  was 
carried  on  during  the  remainder  of  the  evening. 

General  Cheatham  had  rearranged  his  lines  and 
thrown  out  his  skirmishers.  The  two  opposing  col- 
umns were  now  in  plain  view  of  each  other,  on  oppo- 
site sides  of  a  little  ravine,  and  the  skirmish  lines 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  each  other.  The  fighting 
was  brisk  on  the  skirmish  lines  all  the  evening.  The 
Confederate  artillery  sent  showers  of  grape  and  canis- 
ter into  the  Federal  lines  on  the  opposite  hill-side,  and 
the  compliment  was  reciprocated  with  interest  and 
dispatch. 

While  the  lines  were  being  arranged,  Colonel  S.  S. 
Stanton,  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee  Regiment, 
was  killed.  There  were  no  casualties  in  the  Sixteenth 
Regiment  during  the  evening,  more  than  a  few  very 
slight  wounds. 

Night  came  on  and  the  firing  ceased.  The  Confed- 
erates fortified  their  main  lines  and  dug  pits  for  their 
skirmishers  during  the  night.  At  daylight  on  the 
morning  of  the  i5th,  the  skirmishing  was  resumed, 
and  thickened  on  the  right  till  it  merged  into  a  general 
engagement.  During  the  i5th,  this  situation  remained 
comparatively  the  same. 

The  Federals  had  been  re-enforced  to  such  numbers 
that  they  were  able  to  keep  Johnston's  front  engaged^ 


128    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

and  still  keep  a  reserved  line  to  operate  on  his  flanks. 
This  policy  was  inaugurated  by  Sherman  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  campaign,  and  carefully  kept  up  all  through 
the  Georgia  campaign  to  the  fall  of  Atlanta.  This 
forced  upon  Johnston  the  necessity  of  withdrawing 
his  army  to  a  better  position  every  time  he  found  his 
flanks  endangered.  The  Federals  finding  themselves 
unable  to  force  the  position  at  Resaca,  attempted  to 
turn  Johnston's  left  flank  again,  and  he  withdrew  to 
Calhoun. 

In  the  retreat,  Johnston  kept  his  army  in  the  shape 
of  the  letter  Z,  with  one  part  fronting  and  engaging 
the  enemy,  while  the  remainder  of  the  line  was  retreat- 
ing in  shape  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  supply  trains, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  be  available  in  the  event  of  be- 
ing pressed. 

From  Calhoun,  Johnston  retreated  to  Adairsville  on 
May  17.  On  the  evening  of  the  lyth,  Wright's  bri- 
gade was  placed  in  the  rear  to  hold  the  enemy  in 
check  during  further  retreat.  The  Federals  were 
pressing  the  Confederate  rear,  and  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  evening  appeared  at  a  large  mansion  by  the 
roadside.  This  mansion  had  eight  sides,  and  from  the 
house  to  the  right  of  the  road  the  Federal  cavalry 
came  up  with  considerable  dash.  The  Fifty-first  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  under  Lieutenant-colonel  Hall,  was 
placed  on  the  skirmish  line  near  the  house,  and  the 
brigade  was  formed  about  six  hundred  yards  to  the 
rear.  A  severe  brush  was  carried  on  between  the 
skirmish  lines  during  the  evening.  The  Sixteenth  had 
no  casualties,  though  the  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee 
Regiment  lost  two  men. 

At  this  place  Colonel  Donnell  left  the  Sixteenth 
Regiment  permanently  on  account  of  injuries  re- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  129 

ceived  at  Chickamauga,  and   his  place  was  filled  by 
Captain  Randals. 

On  the  lyth,  Johnston  withdrew  his  army  from 
Aclairsville  to  Kingston,  and  on  the  night  of  the  iSth 
encamped  near  Cass  Station.  It  was  determined  to 
give  battle  near  the  town  of  Cassville,  a  few  miles 
from  the  station.  The  Confederate  lines  were  estab- 
lished on  the  morning,  of  the  I9th.  Sherman  was 
prompt  to  time  with  his  whole  army,  and  his  lines 
were  established  at  an  early  hour,  with  his  artillery  in 
position  for  immediate  action.  The  opposing  phalanxes 
were  facing  each  other,  with  scarcely  a  mile  interven- 
ing. Johnston's  army  had  been  strengthened  by  the 
arrival  of  Folk's  corps  from  Mississippi.  This  re-en- 
forcement had  come  up  during  the  engagement  at  Re- 
saca.  Johnston  had  determined  to  engage  the  enemy 
at  Cassville,  and  every  arrangement  had  been  perfected 
accordingly.  The  Confederates  were  in  line  and 
awaiting  the  order  to  attack,  which  was  momentarily 
expected.  The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful. 
The  country  around  Cassville  was  open  and  slightly 
undulating.  Each  army  was  busy  in  its  preparations. 
The  columns  of  the  enemy  could  be  plainly  seen  from 
the  Confederate  position  ;  and  while  all  was  hurry  and 
dispatch  in  the  disposal  of  the  lines,  there  was  a  dull 
and  foreboding  stillness  that  was  broken  only  by  the 
sullen  roar  of  an  occasional  cannon  at  some  points  of 
the  opposing  lines.  The  Confederates  moved  up  a 
short  distance  and  halted.  Suddenly  the  order  came 
along  the  lines  to  "fortify."  The  order  was  promptly 
and  speedily  obeyed.  In  less  than  five  minutes  every 
rail  and  chunk  of  wood  around  was  piled  up  along  the 
line  as  a  breastwork  for  the  men.  Johnston  had  dis- 
covered some  new  developments  in  the  position  and 
9 


130          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

strength  of  the  enemy  in  his  immediate  front.  Sher- 
man had  attained  some  advantage  during  the  morning, 
which  the  active  and  watchful  Confederate  leader  was 
prompt  to  discover,  and  on  the  very  moment  of  giving 
battle  Johnston  discovered  the  sudden  and  unforeseen 
disadvantage  under  which  he  would  be  forced  to  labor, 
and  resolved  not  to  risk  an  engagement  at  Cassville. 
The  enemy  had  massed  his  hgavy  batteries  on  an  ele- 
vation in  Johnston's  front,  and  his  artillery  was  con- 
cealed by  the  timber.  As  the  Confederates  moved  up 
this  artillery  was  moved  into  position,  and  it  developed 
an  advantage  to  the  Federals  that  rendered  the  situa- 
tion so  strong  that  Johnston  concluded  not  to  make  the 
attack.  Scarcely  had  the  Confederates  completed  their 
temporary  breastworks  of  fence  rails  when  the  order 
was  given  to  withdraw  the  lines,  and  the  Confederates 
•were  withdrawn  with  celerity  and  promptness,  though 
in  remarkably  good  order.  The  Confederates  fell  back 
to  Altoona  on  the  2oth,  and  on  the  2ist  moved  on  by 
way  of  Ackworth  to  Big  Shanty,  and  thence  across 
the  Etowah  River. 

Sherman  had  sent  a  heavy  flanking  column  on  the 
left  of  Johnston's  lines  in  the  direction  of  Dallas. 
Johnston  hurried  his  army  across  the  country  and  met 
this  movement.  From  New  Hope  Church  to  Dallas 
the  Confederates  took  position,  and  the  Federals  came 
up  on  the  evening  of  the  24th.  Sherman's  forward 
movement  was  very  determined  on  this  line  as  he  had 
laid  his  plans  on  this  place  with  the  intention  of  gain- 
ing Johnston's  rear  before  he  could  reach  Marietta. 
The  Confederate  leader  was  too  sharp  for  this  game  to 
be  played  upon  him  by  Sherman.  '  A  line  of  rifle-pits 
confronted  Sherman  on  his  arrival  at  Dallas. 

As  the  Federals  advanced  upon  these  lines  they  met 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  131 

with  the  most  stubborn  and  determined  resistance  at 
the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  A  severe  assault  was 
made  on  the  Confederate  lines  at  New  Hope  Church 
on  the  night  of  May  25,  and  heavy  skirmishing  was 
carried  on  daily  at  all  parts  of  the  lines  from  New  Hope 
Church  to  Dallas  during  the  25th,  26th,  and  2yth  of 
May. 

The  campaign  had  now  become  one  regular  se- 
ries of  skirmishes,  with  occasional  sorties  at  differ- 
ent points  from  day  to  day.  The  scene  of  opera- 
tions was  constantly  being  changed  from  point  to 
point.  Sherman  persisted  in  his  attempt  to  flank 
Johnston  out  of  every  position.  Every  attempt  was 
successfully  thwarted  by  the  ever  shrewd  and  watch- 
ful Confederate  leader.  Sherman  found  that  he  could 
make  no  movement  without  encountering  a  line  of 
Confederate  rifle  -  pits.  As  the  situation  demanded 
the  establishment  of  a  "new  line,  the  Confederates 
would  defend  the  line  through  the  day  and  throw  up 
fortifications  at  night.  The  days  were  devoted  to 
fighting  and  the  nights  were  spent  in  fortifying.  The 
Confederates  were  never  off  duty.  The  lines  were 
under  fire  at  all  times,  and  military  operations  assumed 
the  most  active  and  energetic  aspect. 

Johnston's  lines  were  changed  almost  daily,  and  every 
new  line  was  promptly  fortified.  The  whole  country 
for  miles  around  was  cut  up  with  fortifications.  The 
scene  changed  from  position  to  position  until  the  Con- 
federate lines  were  established  on  Lost  Mountain. 
This  mountain  was  a  small  mound-like  elevation  which 
arose  to  a  considerable  height  above  the  surrounding 
country,  which  was  level.  This  mountain  was  about 
the  center  of  Johnston's  lines.  In  the  skirmishes  about 
Lost  Mountain  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  lost  two  men, 


132          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

and  several  were  wounded.  Private  Henry  C.  Tate, 
of  Company  A,  and  private  Andrew  Saylors,  of  Com- 
pany K,  were  killed  on  the  25th.  They  were  both 
good  soldiers  and  good  men. 

The  campaign  was  thus  vigorously  pressed  by  Sher- 
man and  obstinately  opposed  by  Johnston  during  the 
latter  part  of  May,  and  was  continued  with  increased 
vigor  and  determination  on  each  side  until  the  fall  of 
Atlanta. 

Johnston's  army  held  its  position  around  Lost 
Mountain  until  the  Middle  of  June  following.  On 
the  I4th  of  June  he  changed  his  lines  from  Lost 
Mountain  so  as  to  include  Pine  Mountain,  a  few  miles 
to  his  rear.  Sherman  had  been  operating  on  John- 
ston's left  for  the  double  purpose  of  getting  the  Con- 
federates as  far  as  possible  from  the  railroad,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  gain,  if  possible,  the  Confederate  rear. 
In  this  manner  the  scene  of  operations  had  thus  drifted 
to  the  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  south-west  of 
the  railroad.  Sherman  finding  that  every  attempt  upon 
Johnston's  left  had  failed,  and  being  thwarted  in  every 
demonstration  in  that  direction,  now  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  Johnston's  right  with  a  view  of  turning  his  po- 
sition on  the  railroad.  Thus  operations  gradually  bore 
back  in  the  direction  of  the  railroad  until  the  Confed- 
erate lines  included  Pine  Mountain  on  the  left.  From 
Pine  Mountain  the  movements  of  the  enemy  could  be 
plainly  seen  in  every  direction,  and  on  this  account 
signal  corps  were  placed  on  its  summit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i4th,  General  Johnston,  to- 
gether with  several  of  his  corps  commanders,  was  on 
the  summit  of  Pine  Mountain  viewing  the  movements 
of  the  enemy.  This  group  was  discovered  by  the 
enemy,  who  fired  a  rifle  shot  from  one  of  their  batter- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  133 

ies  into  its  midst.  The  shot  passed  through  the  body 
of  General  Polk,  killing  him  instantly.  It  seemed  that 
the  Federals  had  learned  the  signals  of  the  Confede- 
rates. The  death  of  General  Polk  was  known  along 
the  Confederate  lines  in  a  few  minutes.  Strange  as  it 
may  appear,  the  Federals  knew  it  almost  as  soon  as  the 
Confederates.  Developments  afterward  showed  that 
a  certain  Lieutenant  Fluke,  of  the  United  States  Sig- 
ifal  Service,  had  made  a  study  of  the  Confederate  sig- 
nals and  had  been  so  successful  as  to  be  able  to  read 
the  Confederate  signals  on  Pine  Mountain,  as  the  death 
of  General  Polk  was  signaled  to  the  army  immediately 
after  its  occurrence. 

On  the  1 5th,  General  Johnston  withdrew  the  left 
wing  of  his  army  one  and  a  half  miles  and  established 
a  new  line,  which  he  hastily  fortified.  There  was  very 
severe  skirmishing  all  along  this  line,  which  was  kept 
up  the  entire  day. 

On  June  16  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  lost  two  men. 
William  Lowry,  of  Company  E,  and  Samuel  Baker,  of 
Company  I,  were  killed  on  the  skirmish  line.  The 
skirmishing  continued  brisk,  and  some  charges  were 
made  in  General  Johnston's  lines  during  the  day. 

It  rained  -almost  incessantly  during  the  iSth,  I9th, 
2oth,  and  2ist  of  June.  Johnston  had  now  moved  his 
lines  till" his  right  wing  included  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
near  Marietta.  The  Confederate  left  was  extended  to 
cover  a  flanking  column  of  the  enemy.  The  Confed- 
erate lines  on  the  left  were  quickly  established,  and 
Hood's  corps  made  a  spirited  attack  upon  the  enemy's 
right  on  the  evening  of  June  23.  The  attack  was  brief. 
Hood  withdrew  his  column  and  formed  on  Hardee's 
left.  The  lines  along  the  Kennesaw  position  were 
strengthened.  Rifle-pits  were  dug  for  the  main  line 


134          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

and  ditches  for  the  skirmish  line.  The  opposing  armies 
were  often  within  speaking  distance  of  each  other,  and 
the  picket  fighting  was  constant  during  the  day.  At 
night  tliere  was  generally  a  lull  in  the  picket  fighting, 
each  side  agreeing  upon  a  truce.  Sometimes  the  pick- 
ets would  engage  each  other  in  friendly  conversation. 
At  other  times  the  conversation  would  commence  with 
taunts  and  continue  until  the  truce  would  be  broken  by 
a  shot.  In  such  cases  a  brisk  fight  would  be  the  result. 

Sometimes  during  the  night  the  pickets  would  agree 
to  meet  unarmed  at  the  half-way  point  between  the 
two  stands.  In  such  cases  the  men  would  exchange 
papers,  and  the  Federal  would  exchange  his  coffee 
with  the  Confederate  for  tobacco,  besides  a  general 
trade  and  traffic  in  such  articles  as  were  possessed  by 
each  party  respectively.  On  all  such  occasions  the 
truce  was  brief,  and  at  its  conclusion  each  party  re- 
paired promptly  to  his  respective  position. 

On  the  24th  the  skirmishing  was  heavier  all  along 
the  lines  during  the  entire  day.  The  weather  was  hot 
and  sultry.  The  men  had  become  quite  inured  to  hard- 
ships. The  health  of  the  Tennessee  troops  continued 
good.  The  men  were  supplied  abundantly  with  plain 
though  substantial  food,  and  they  bore-  up  bravely 
under  the  continued  hardships  and  toils  which  this 
campaign  entailed  upon  them.  * 

Throughout  the  25th  and  26th  were  heavy  skirmish- 
ing and  various  demonstrations  all  along  the  lines.  On 
the  morning  of  the  27th  General  Sherman  massed  Jiis 
troops  in  Johnston's  front  on  that  part  of  the  line  occu- 
pied by  Cheatham's  division  on  the  left  and  Cleburn's 
division  on  the  right.  The  Federals  came  on  in  several 
parallel  columns.  The  Confederates  awaited  their  ap- 
proach until  within  a  few  rods  of  the  works,  when 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  135 

they  opened  with  artillery  and  infantry  upon  the  ad- 
vancing enemy,  whose  ranks  were  cut  down  at  a  fear- 
ful rate.  Nothing  daunted  by  the  broadside  of  grape 
and  canister  from  the  Confederate  batteries  and  the 
storm  of  bullets  that  were  hurled  through  their  columns 
from  the  rifle-pits,  the  Federals  pressed  on  until  their 
front  had  reached  the  works  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
ensued.  At  one  point  the  enemy  succeeded  in  plant- 
ing his  colors  upon  the  works  of  the  Confederates,  but 
were  shot  down  as  fast  as  the  works  were  scaled.  The 
Confederates  stood  their  ground  in  front  and  the  bat- 
teries on  the  flanks  poured  such  a  murderous  cross-fire 
into  the  Federal  columns  that  they  were  forced  to  fall 
back  to  their  intrenchments.  The  battle  was^brief, 
though  furious.  The  assault  was  spirited  and  deter- 
mined. The  loss  to  the  Federals  was  very  severe. 
General  Harker  was  slain,  and  their  killed  and 
wounded  covered  the  ground  in  front  of  the  Confed- 
erate works.  The  Confederate  loss  was  small.  Pri- 
vate Joshua  W.  Carter,  of  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  was  killed  on  the  picket  line,  and  a 
few  were  wounded  and  captured. 

Sherman  was  now  pressing  Johnston's  position  se- 
verely, and  having  failed  in  his  attempt  to  carry  the 
Confederate  position  at  Kennesaw  by  storm,  the  old 
game  of  flanking  was  resorted  to  by  the  Federal  gen- 
eral. The  Confederate  left  was  withdrawn  a  short 
distance  on  July  2,  and  on  the  3d  Johnston  withdrew 
his  whole  army  behind  Marietta.  On  the  morning 
of  the  4th  the  Federals  entered  Marietta  with  great 
enthusiasm. 

The  two  armies  remained  confronting  each  other  on 
the  Chattahoochie,  near  Marietta,  and  engaged  in  va- 
rious skirmishes  and  sorties  daily  until  June  17,  when 


136    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

the  Confederates  fortified  their  lines  and  prepared  for 
a  stubborn  and  determined  resistance. 

General  Johnston  had  been  removed  from  command 
by  the  Confederate  authorities,  and  his  place  was  filled 
by  General  J.  B.  Hood,  who  was  at  the  time  a  corps 
commander.  The  authorities  at  Richmond  had  be- 
come impatient  and  dissatisfied  because  Johnston  did 
not  engage  the  enemy  at  Cassville,  and  especially  be- 
cause he  had  fallen  back  from  his  stronghold  at-  Ken- 
nesaw  Mountain.  They  could  not  realize  the  disparity 
of  numbers  and  strength  between  the  opposing  armies. 
It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  Johnston,  with  an  army 
constantly  on  duty  and  worn,  out  by  a  constant  cam- 
paign without  relief,  could  turn  upon  an  army  of 
double  his  numbers  and  superior  equipments  and  drive 
it  back  from  the  country. 

General  Johnston  was  a  wise  and  prudent  com- 
mander, who  knew  his  own  strength  and  the  strength 
of  the  enemy  that  opposed  him.  He  had  confronted 
an  enemy  thus  flushed  with  a  series  of  brilliant  suc- 
cesses and  supplied  with  every  convenience  and  appli- 
ance of  modern  warfare,  and,  with  an  inferior  force 
and  with  inferior  arms  and  ammunition,  he  had  dis- 
puted every  inch  of  his  advance  and  checked  every 
movement  that  was  attempted  by  the  enemy  upon  his 
lines.  Thus  had  he  disputed  Sherman's  advance,  and 
by  skillful  maneuverings  he  had  engaged  his  front 
daily,  and,  with  a  comparatively  small  loss. to  his  own 
army,  he  had  inflicted  a  severe  loss  to  the  enemy,  to 
the  extent  of  several  thousand  men.  He  had  with- 
drawn his  army  carefully  from  place  to  place  as  his 
flanks  were  exposed,  and  with  a  fi'ont  to  the  enemy  at 
all  times  he  protected  the  withdrawal  of  his  supply 
trains  and  his  wounded,  and  let  nothing  fall  into  the 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  137 

hands  of  the  enemy.  In  this  retreat,  Johnston  had  ac- 
complished one  of  the  greatest  military  achievements 
of  modern  warfare,  and  his  brilliant  genius  and  prac- 
tical skill  in  the  work  of  handling  and  maneuvering 
large  armies  justly  placed  him  in  the  list  of  the  great- 
est military  chieftains  of  the  age  ;  yet  he  was  to  be  su- 
perseded and  his  place  filled  by  General  Hood — a 
good  soldier  and  a  brave  man,  but  possessed  of  more 
courage  than  prudence,  and  more  valor  than  discretion. 

On  the  morning  of  the  iSth  the  Confederates  were 
moved  out  of  their  breastworks  and  hurled  upon  the 
Federal  lines.  The  loss  was  fearful,  and  nothing  prac- 
tical was  accomplished.  The  Confederates  lost  main- 
brave  and  good  men.  R.  M.  Safley,  of  Company  H, 
Sixteenth  Tennessee,  was  severely  wounded  by  a  shot 
through  the  lungs.  Lieutenant  John  Akeman  of  the 
same  company  fell  in  this  fight,  having  received  four 
wrounds,  either  of  which  was  mortal.  Private  A.  J. 
Agent,  of  Company  I,  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment, 
was  killed  on  the  field.  The  other  regiments  suffered 
greatly.  The  Confederates  were  repulsed  in  this  at- 
tack, as  the  Federals  were  intrenched  and  had  greatly 
superior  numbers.  The  two  opposing  armies  were  in 
the  immediate  presence  of  each  other  all  the  time  and 
under  a  continual  fire. 

General  Hood  arranged  his  columns  for  another  at- 
tack upon  the  enemy,  and  on  July  20  threw  his  whole 
army  upon  Sherman's  fortified  position  with  all  the 
fury  and  desperation  at  his  command.  The  losses  were 
heavy  on  both  sides.  The  battle  was  a  severe  and  des- 
perate one.  Many  of  the  boys  of  the  Sixteenth  Ten- 
nessee were  severely,  and  some  mortally,  wounded. 

On  July  21,  Wright's  brigade  was  moved  farther  to 
the  right  of  Hood's  lines.  Private  William  Etter  was 


138          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

killed  on  the  evening  of  the  2ist  while  on  picket  duty. 
On  the  morning  of  July  22,  Cheatham's  division  at- 
tacked the  enemy's  left  on  that  part  of  the  line  occu- 
pied by  McPherson's  division.  The  Federals  were 
driven  back  at  this  point  and  General  McPherson  was 
killed.  The  Confederates  carried  the  Federal  position 
and  captured  quite  a  number  of  prisoners.  As  in  the 
preceding  engagements,  the  losses  were  heavy  on  both 
sides,  though,  considering  numbers  engaged,  the  losses 
of  the  Confederates  were  greater.  The  Sixteenth 
Tennessee  lost  many  valuable  men.  Grundy  Gibbs,  of 
Company  C,  was  killed  in  this  engagement.  James  C. 
Biles,  of  Company  C,  received  two  severe  wounds 
during  the  battle  of  the  22d,  and  Wright  S.  Hackett, 
of  Company  C,  fell  mortally  wounded  and  died  within 
a  few  days.  The  other  companies  and  regiments  suf- 
fered severely.  Mr.  Hackett  was  a  man  beloved  and 
respected  by  his  comrades  and  all  who  knew  him.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  war  he  was  first  lieutenant  of  his 
company  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  the  reorgani- 
zation at  Corinth,  when  he  resigned  his  commission  as 
an  officer  and  entered  the  ranks  of  his  company  as  a 
private.  Concerning  his  noble  qualities  and  many 
virtues,  the  Atlanta  papers  of  August  9,  1864,  printed 
the  following  correct  and  just  tribute  : 

THE  LATE  WRIGHT  S.  HACKETT,  ESQ^. 

WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE,  CHEATHAM'S  DIVISION,) 

August  12,  1864.     ( 

Mr.  Editor: — Death,  so  fond  of  a  shining  mark,  in  his  bloody 
march  on  the  22d  of  last  month,  grasped  the  vitals  of  many  of 
the  heroes  in  this  veteran  army — among  them,  Wright  S.  Hack- 
ett, Company  C,  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Infantry.  The  painful 
intelligence  of  the  fatality  of  his  wound,  as  announced  in  the 
Rebel,  has  reached  his  companions,  and  a  wail  of  universal  lam- 
entation arises  from  the  ranks  his  presence  so  long  honored. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  139 

While  it  may  be  wrong  to  particularize  in  these  remembrances 
of  our  valiant  dead,  where  all  so  nobly  die,  yet  the  character  of 
this  "  bright  but  fleeting  star  "  was  such  as  to  insure  from  the 
public  a  sympathetic  tear  by  a  brief  rehearsal  of  the  associations 
antecedent  to  the  calamitous  event  of  his  death. 

Born  in  the  mountainous  region  of  East  Tennessee,  of  fine 
physical  form,  stout  and  active,  with  remarkable  intellectual 
promise,  he  arose  in  the  morning  of  life  to  high  honors  as  a  lit- 
erary scholar  and  a  graduate  at  law.  He  had  but  embarked  upon 
his  professional  career,  with  a  mind  well  stored  with  knowledge 
in  all  its  departments,  when  that  trump,  whose  martial  notes  have 
almost  robbed  Tennessee  of  her  bed  of  future  glory,  awakened 
the  fire  of  his  enthusiastic  bosom,  and  enrolled  him  in  the  list  of 
the  champions  of  Southern  rights. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  war  he  participated  in  the  arduous 
campaigns  of  Western  Virginia  and  North  Mississippi,  in  the 
capacity  of  first  lieutenant,  until  the  reorganization  of  the  army 
at  Corinth.  At  that  time  he  was  unanimously  chosen  captain  of 
his  old  company,  which  position  he  flatly  but  positively  refused. 
Unlike  a  large  number  of  officers  I  have  known,  he  did  not  seek 
to  avoid  conscription,  but  after  a  visit  home,  designed  to  be  brief, 
though  protracted  by  a  severe  attack  of  fever  which  left  him  al- 
most at  the  grave,  he  rejoined  his  comrades  as  a  private  in  the 
ranks.  Often  entreated  to  accept  the  position  of  an  officer — any 
he  might  wish — he  refused  them  all  alike,  positively  declaring 
his  determination  to  do  duty  as  a  private  throughout  the  war, 
which  rank  he  filled  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  with  great  credit 
to  himself  and  his  command. 

In  the  gallant  charges  of  his  brigade  on  July  22  he  was  ever 
with  the  foremost  in  that  rapid  march  to  victory;  and  the  field 
was  nearly  won,  when,  some  distance  ahead  of  his  lines,  recon- 
noitering  in  front,  he  fell,  shot  through  and  through  by  a  minnie 
ball.  He  spoke  in  cheerful  tones  of  his  misfortune  and  left  the 
field,  expressing  strong  hopes  of  recovery.  But  alas!  a  few  days 
ago  he  died  at  Catoosa  hospital. 

The  heart  beats  quick,  the  breath  is  short,  and  the  moist  eyes 
of  men  who  fear  not  battle,  respond  to  this  plaintive  tale.  The 
surface  of  the  outside  world  seems  ruffled  with  never  a  care,  but 
the  large  circle  of  his  acquaintances  is  stricken  with  grie,f.  He 


140         THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

was  what  we  may  call  a  private  hero  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 
With  superior  mental  endowment  and  most  unexceptionable 
social  qualities,  with  friends  without  number,  and  ample  capacity 
to  command,  the  hand  of  fame  and  the  flatteries  of  fortune 
tempting  upward  to  earthly  glory,  still  true  to  his  nature  he  re- 
nounced them  all. 

In  camp-fire  consultations  his  opinion  always  preponderated; 
his  standard  of  honor  and  cleverness  was  the  rule  of  his  mess- 
mates, and  his  merry  laugh  and  gloom-dispelling  jokes  were  sure 
antidotes  to  all  affections  of  the  blues.  Esteemed  as  a  friend, 
faithful  and  ready;  exalted  as  a  soldier  and  man,  we  all  loved 
him.  A  grateful  and  admiring  people  lament  great  men  like 
Sidney  Johnson,  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  Leonidas  Polk,  for  the 
chair  of  a  chieftain  is  empty;  and  a  like  feeling  drapes  the  hearts 
of  Wright  S.  Hackett's  friends.  All  recognized  him  an  embryo 
chieftain.  Genius  sanctioned  his  earthly  advent,  fame  stamped 
her  image  on  his  brow,  and  the  proud  bark  of  childhood  rode  on 
the  deep  of  praise  and  power.  "Cut  down  on  the  theater  of  glory, 
the  soaring  aspirations  of  a  noble  mind  obliterated  by  sudden  and 
unexpected  death,  his  spirit  has  gone  out  with  the  far  unknown. 
His  form,  once  so  full  of  life  and  vigor,  is  crumbling  in  decay; 
the  joy  of  his  smile  is  lost  to  us  forever;  but  the  memory  of  his 
pure  patriotism,  generous  heart,  and  lofty  and  refined  emotions, 
are  endurable  as  eternity  itself. 

These  shall  resist  the  empire  of  decay, 

When  time  is  o'er  and  worlds  have  passed  away  : 

Cold  in  the  dust  the  p'rished  heart  may  lie, 

That  which  warmed  it  once  can  never  die.  VlX. 

DEATH  OF  PRIVATE  WRIGHT  S.  HACKETT. 

From  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  August  9,  1864. 

Died,  in  this  city,  on  last  Saturday,  Wright  S.  Hackett,  Esq., 
a  private  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Wright's  bri- 
gade, Cheatham's  Division,  of  a  wound  received  on  the  22d  ul- 
timo in»front  of  Atlanta. 

Mr.  Hackett  was  in  every  sense  a  remarkable  character,  and 
his  untimely  decease  will  leave  a  pang  in  many  hearts  who  had 
learned  to  respect  and  love  him.  He  was  about  twenty-six  years 
old,  was  a  lawyer  of  rising  merit  in  Tennessee,  and  was  one  of 
the  best  soldiers,  most  thorough  gentlemen,  and  worthy  men  that 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


141 


the  service  afforded.  He  was  as  gentle  as  a  child,  and  as  simple- 
hearted  and  pure  in  his  tastes  and  affections;  as  modest  as  a 
young  maiden  just  budding  into  womanhood;  as  devoted  to  duty 
and  his  country  as  any  hero  of  ancient  or  modern  times  who  has 
been  celebrated  in  song  and  story;  as  fearless  as  the  Roman  le- 
gionary, and  as  true  as  the  north  star.  This  is  no  mere  language 
of  eulogy;  it  is  the  deliberate  judgment  upon  his  character  of  all 
who  have  been  associated  with  him,  in  and  out  of  the  army. 


W.    S.    HACKETT. 


He  uniformly  declined  promotion,  being  convinced  that  the 
private  station  is  the  post  of  honor.  This  was  done  through  no 
affectation  of  a  contempt  for  office,  but  always  with  modesty  and 
firmness..  He  was  twice  tendered  promotion  as  captain  of  his 


142          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

company,  and  twice  received  the  commission  as  adjutant  of  his 
regiment,  all  of  which  he  promptly  declined.  At  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro  he  was  •  clothed  with  temporary  command  of  the 
regiment  by  Colonel  John  H.  Savage,  commanding  the  regiment, 
who  was  suddenly  called  to  manage  a  detachment  that  was  being 
flanked  by  the  enemy.  This  was  a  rare  and  most  signal  compli- 
ment to  his  ability  and  capacity  for  leadership,  which  was  enthu- 
siastically accepted  by  the  regiment,  who  followed  him  immedi- 
ately afterward  into  a  charge  by  which  the  enemy  was  driven 
back  and  the  detachment  of  two  companies  relieved  from  the 
danger  of  capture. 

Mr.  Hackett's  crowning  quality  was  his  high  moral  excellence. 
His  morals  we*e  as  pure  as  the  philosopher  or  Christian  could 
enforce.  To  an  intellect  of  great  clearness  and  force  he  added 
the  highest  virtue  and  the  most  exemplary  habits  and  principles. 
He  was  an  industrious  student  even  in  the  army.  To  his  love 
for  study  was  due  most  of  that  disposition  to  avoid  promotion, 
which  rendered  him  a  conspicuous  example  of  unselfishness.  He 
knew  that  the  cares  of  position  would  interfere  with  the  pursuit 
of  his  studies,  and  hence  he  preferred  to  drill  and  fight  in  the 
ranks,  where  he  could  discharge  the  duties  of  the  patriot  soldier 
without  the  multiplied  cares  that  would  fall  to  his  lot  as  an  officer. 
Such  a  soldier  is  a  model  whose  excellences  should  be  held  up 
to  ouryoung  Confederacy  for  imitation.  Rome,  nor  Greece,  nor 
our  Revolution  of  '76,  ever  produced  a  purer  model. 

His  remaius  lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Grifinn,  bedewed  with  the 
tears  and  laureled  with  the  honors  of  all  who  shall  come  to  know 
his  character  of  patriot,  soldier,  and  man. 


RETREAT  FROM  ATLANTA. 

Hood  withdrew  his  forces  in  good  order  and  re- 
treated seven  miles  to  Lovely  Station.  Here  he  drew 
up  his  lines  and  hastily  fortified  his  position.  Sher- 
man's army  followed  in  rapid  pursuit,  and  under  a 
heavy  cannonade  he  pushed  his  picket  lines  to  a  close 
proximity  to  Hood's  position.  The  lines  thus  con- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  143 

fronted  each  other  and  picket  fighting  was  kept  up 
continually  till  September  5,  when  the  engagement 
became  general.  The  battle  was  perhaps  not  so  severe 
as  some  of  tbe  preceding  engagements  around  Atlanta. 
The  losses  on  both  sides  were  about  the  same.  The 
casualties  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  were 
Joseph  Brown,  of  Company  K,  killed,  and  H.  C.  Paine, 
of  Company  I,  mortally  wounded. 

The  fight  closed  in  the  evening,  with  each  army  in 
its  original  position,  no  advantage  having  been  gained 
by  either.  The  armies  thus  lay  confronting  each  other, 
with  heavy  cannonading  and.  picket  fighting,  during 
the  3d,  4th,  5th,  and  6th  of  September,  with  slight  cas- 
ualties on  both  sides. 

On  the  morning  of  September  7,  the  Federals  dis- 
appeared from  Hood's  front,  and  the  Confederates  fol- 
lowed back  five  miles  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta. 

The  Federal  army  entered  Atlanta  September  2, 
1864.  Hood  had  been  completely  flanked  out  of  the 
position  by  Sherman  in  the  campaigns  resulting  in  the 
battles  of  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station.  The  Fed- 
erals had  gained  their  great  objective  point,  and  had 
captured  the  Gate  City  of  the  South,  which  contained 
the  principal  store-houses  and  work-shops  of  the  Con- 
federacy. The  leading  object  of  the  Federals  accom- 
plished, and  the  shattered  remnant  of  the  Confederate 
army  being  thus  cut  ofF  from  its  resources  in  every  re- 
spect, the  collapse  of  the  Confederacy  was  a  mere 
matter  of  time.  Hood  saw  that  defensive  operations 
were  no  longer  feasible,  and  resolved  to  throw  his  army 
upon  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee  with  the  hope  of 
gaining  recruits  and  supplies,  and  also  expecting  that, 
if  he  could  cut  off  Sherman's  communications  with 
his  base  of  supplies,  he  would  be  forced  to  retire  from 


144    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

Georgia.  Accordingly,  the  Confederate  commander 
put  his  army  in  shape  for  an  active  aggressive  cam- 
paign upon  the  enemy's  rear. 

Sherman  detached  Thomas's  corps  to  operate  against 
Hood  in  these  movements,  and  with  the  rest  of  his 
army  he  inaugurated  his  celebrated  "  March  to  the 
Sea,"  which  he  accomplished  without  opposition.  This 
campaign  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  was  attended  with 
a  degree  of  devastation  scarcely  expected  of  General- 
Sherman,  yet  he  claimed  it  as  a  military  necessity  to 
lay  waste  the  country  and  impoverish  the  people; 
further,  that  the  Confederacy  might  not  be  able  to  util- 
ize this  section  by  gathering  up  supplies  from  it  to  feed 
its  armies. 

Sherman  had  left  garrisons  at  all  the  principal  points 
from  Dalton  to  Atlanta,  and  fortifying  and  garrisoning 
the  latter  place,  he  left  his  sick  and  wounded  here,  and, 
cutting  himself  loose  from  his  communications,  made 
his  march  to  the  sea. 

Hood  had  matured  his  plans  to  attack  the  most  sal- 
ient points  of  Sherman's  line  of  communications  thus 
abandoned.  On  September  19  the  Confederates 
marched  about  twenty  miles  and  encamped  at  Pal- 
metto Station,  on  the  West  Point  road.  Theve  was  a 
general  consolidation  of  companies  and  regiments  at 
this  time,  and  the  result  was  a  large  list  of  supernu- 
merary officers.  The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment 
had  suffered  a  long  list  of  casualties  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  The  effective  force  of  the  regiment  was 
reduced  to  so  small  a  number  that  the  remnant  of  the 
ten  original  companies  was  scarcely  enough  to  make 
three  good  companies  by  consolidation.  Companies 
A,  D,  and  E  were  consolidated  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Frank  M.  York.  Companies  B, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  145 

C,  and  H  were  consolidated  and  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain John  Lucus  Thompson;  and  Companies  F,  G,  I, 
and  K  were  consolidated  and  commanded  by  Captain 
Ad  Fiski  The  regiment  was  thus  consolidated  into 
three  companies,  and  the  officers  of  the  other  compa- 
nies were  relieved  of  command  and  placed  on  the  list 
of  supernumeraries.  The  other  regiments  were  simi- 
larly consolidated.  The  Eighth,  Tenth,  and  Twenty  - 
eighth  Regiments  were  now  consolidated  into  one  reg- 
iment and  commanded  by  Colonel  John  H.  Anderson. 

President  Davis  visited  the  army  here  and  addressed 
the  men  several  times.  He  was  listened  to  with  great 
attention,  and  his  remarks  were  well  received.  Several 
changes  were  made.  Hardee  left  to  take  command  of 
the  District  of  South  Carolina,  and  General  Frank 
Cheatham  took  command  of  the  corps.  General  Ste- 
phen D.  Lee  retained  the  command  of  Hood's  corps, 
and  General  A.  P.  Stewart  was  kept  in  command  of 
ours  (Folk's  old  corps).*  General  Hood  had  by  this 
time  perfected  his  plans  for  a  march  through  Georgia, 
over  the  ground  where  we  had  fallen  back  before  Sher- 
man. 

About  the  last  of  September  the  reorganization  of 
the  army  was  completed  and  we  started  north,  striking 
the  Georgia  Central  Railroad  near  Marietta.  This  was 
the  road  which  Sherman  depended  upon  for  his  sup- 
plies. "To  destroy  is  a  soldier's  joy."  Here  was 
property  belonging  to  our  friends,  but  this  was  no  con- 
cern of  ours.  The  orders  were  to  tear  up  the  tracks, 
and  at  once  the  work  was  begun.  Huge  fires  of  ties 
were  built,  rails  laid  across  them,  the  center  heated  to 
a  red  heat,  when  they  were  carried  over  to  the  trees 
and  bent  until  the  ends  met.  In  some  cases  the  rails 
were  twisted  around  the  trunks  of  the  ti'ees,  forming  a 
10 


146    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

ring*  and  in  every  way  possible  destroying  their  useful- 
ness. We  continued  this  work  until  we  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Allatoona,  when,  on  the  morning  of  Octo- 
ber 5,  we  formed  line  of  battle  and  sent  a  demand  to 
General  Corse,  commanding  the  Federal  forces,  to  sur- 
render. To  this  he  refused  compliance,  so  we  were  or- 
dered by  General  French  to  assault  the  works. 

The  fortifications  of  Allatoona,  as  near  as  can  be  re- 
membered from  hasty  glances  at  them  during  the  fight, 
consisted  of,  first,  a  line  of  rifle-pits  for  skirmishers; 
next,  a  strong  abatis  and  an  infantry  parapet  with  two 
six-pounder  guns  firing  through  embrasures;  next,  in 
rear,  was  a  strong  inclosed  fort  about  twelve  feet  high, 
surrounded  by  a  ditch  too  deep  for  escalade. 

When  the  assault  opened  the  Federals  stood  right 
up  to  their  work,  and  we,  for  a  few  seconds,  had  what 
the  boys  called  "  a  hot  time."  Our  Texas  friends  in 
the  second  line — Ector's  brigade — caught  up  and  went 
over  with  us.  As  our  boys  Swarmed  over  the  parapet 
the  bayonet  was  freely  used  by  both  sides,  officers 
firing  their  pistols,  and  many  throwing  sticks  and 
stones.  This  melee  was  quickly  ended  by  the  surren- 
der of  most  of  the  defenders,  very  few  of  whom 
reached  their  large  fort  in  the  rear.  All  this  time  our 
own  batteries  were  silent.  They  had  been  ordered  to 
a  hill  on  our  right  to  enfilade  the  position,  and  why 
they  did  not  open  fire  was,  and  still  is,  a  mystery. 

This  was,  for  the  time  engaged,  the  bloodiest  fight 
we  were  ever  in,  and  our  loss  was  heavy.  Corse's  men 
fought  like  demons. 

We  now  received  and  replied  to  a  hot  fire  from  the 
big  fort,  and  soon  stopped  their  artillerists  from  look- 
ing through  their  embrasures,  silencing  their  guns.  At 
this  point  General  French  ordered  the  line  to  fall  back. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  147 

This  order  was  disregarded,  but  a  second  peremptory 
order  soon  came,  and  was  reluctantly  obeyed. 

Wright's  brigade  was  now  commanded  by  Brigadier- 
general  John  C.  Carter,  formerly  Colonel  of  the  Thirty- 
eighth  Tennessee. 

Hood  now  moved  upon  Dalton,  which  was  defended 
by  a  fortification  manned  by  negro  troops.  Hood  in- 
vested the  place,  and  the  colored  garrison  surrendered. 
The  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment  was  in  the  brigade 
that  took  charge  of  the  fort  and  the  prisoners. 

Proceeding  from  Dalton,  Hood  marched  through  the 
Buzzard  Roost  Gap  of  Taylor's  Ridge,  a  few  miles 
west  of  Dalton,  and  thence  by  Cedar  Town  across 
Sand  Mountain  to  Decatur,  and  invested  the  place. 
From  Decatur  the  march  was  continued  to  Gadsden,  a 
small  town  on  the  Coosa  river,  and  thence  to  Tus- 
cumbia,  arriving  October  30,  1864.  The  march  had 
been  a  long  and  severe  one,  and  the  men  were  worn 
out  and  exhausted.  The  army  remained  at  Tuscumbia 
till  November  8,  when  orders  were  received  to  march, 
the  men  knew  not  where.  A  bridge  having  been  built 
over  the  creek,  the  troops  were  crossed  over  in  the 
night.  The  rain  was  incessant.  The  night  was  dark, 
the  roads  muddy,  and  the  weather  cold  and  disagree- 
able. Having  crossed  over,  the  men  went  into  camp 
and  remained  till  November  n,  when  the  march  was 
resumed  in  the  direction  of  the  Tennessee  river.  Ar- 
riving near  its  banks,  the  camp  was  established  and  a 
pontoon  was  thrown  across  the  river.  On  the  i3th, 
Hood  crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Florence  with  his  army 
and  moved  on  through  a  fertile,  though  fearfully  deso- 
ated,  country.  Winter  was  now  setting  in  with  its 
severest  rigor,  and  many  of  the  men  were  barefooted 
and  destitute  of  many  other  articles  of  clothing.  The 


148         THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

men  bore  their  hardships  and  privations  with  heroic 
fortitude,  and,  regardless  of  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  the  muddy  roads,  and  their  general  want  of 
necessary  supplies  and  comforts,  they  stood  ready  and 
willing  to  act  further  and  suffer  more  in  the  defense 
of  their  cause,  which  they  conscientiously  believed  to 
be  right  and  just. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  149 


CHAPTER   VI. 
BATTLES  OF  FRANKLIN  AND  NASHVILLE. 

On  November  22,  Hood  moved  a  portion  of  his  army 
back  to  Florence  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  his  sup- 
ply trains  on  the  march.  The  men  waded  the  snow 
and  mud,  and  passing  the  State  line  by  way  of  Waynes- 
boro,  encamped  on  the  night  of  the  24th.  Proceeding 
on  the  25th,  they  made  a  rapid  march  in  the  direction 
of  Franklin,  and  camped  on  the  evening  of  the  26th 
one  and  one  half  miles  from  Columbia,  in  Maury  county, 
Tennessee.  Proceeding  on  the  morning  of  the  2^th, 
they  appeared  in  front  of  a  Federal  force  in  the  even- 
ing, after  a  march  of  twenty  miles.  The  Federals 
were  reported  to  be  retreating  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  and  orders  were  received  to  be  in  readiness  to 
march  at  a  moment's  notice.  On  the  29th  the  Confed- 
erates moved  at  daylight,  and  marched  two  miles  up 
Duck  River,  where  a  crossing  was  effected,  and  the 
march  was  pushed  with  vigor  through  hills  and  hol- 
lows with  the  view  of  getting  beyond  the  enemy  and 
forcing  a  surrender.  The  enemy  having  the  advantage 
of  better  roads,  made  his  escape  and  took  a  stand  at 
Spring  Hill.  After  a  slight  resistance  at  Spring  Hill 
the  Federals  moved  on  rapidly  to  Franklin.  Hood 
pressed  on,  after  making  a  march  of  seventeen  miles 
without  roads,  and  encamped  for  the  night  within  four 
miles  of  Franklin.  The  enemy  was  drawn  up  in  plain 
view.  Hood  arrived  in  their  immediate  front  before 


150    THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

Franklin  about  3  P.M.  on  the  3Oth.  A  lii>e  of  battle 
was  formed,  and  about  4  o'clock  he  struck  their 
outer  line  of  works.  The  fight  was  the  most  desper- 
ate of  the  war.  The  Confederates  assaulted  the  outer 
line  with  desperate  force,  and  after  a  hand-to-hand 
contest  the  Federals  finally  yielded  this  line  and 
took  position  behind  the  inner  works.  Every  approach 
to  the  inner  works  was  obstructed  in  every  manner 
known  to  civil  warfare. 

It  was  now  near  sundown.  The  Confederates  came 
up  to  the  work  of  death  in  a  cool  and  fearless  manner. 
Working  their  way  through  the  different  species  of  ob- 
structions, the  inner  works  were  assaulted,  and  as  dark- 
ness began  to  envelop  the  scene  the  work  of  carnage 
was  desperate  almost  beyond  description. 

The  Federals  held  their  ground  with  a  tenacity  un- 
known to  former  conflicts.  The  Confederates  press 
on  with  a  reckless  daring  and  determination,  utterly 
regardless  of  all  opposing  obstacles.  Night  had  now 
closed  its  mantle  over  the  scene,  and  the  conflict  raged 
the  more  furiously.  Many  a  gallant  soldier  of  each 
army  fell  at  the  feet  of  his  more  successful  antagonist. 

In  this  manner  the  fight  lasted  until  about  one  hour 
after  dark.  The  enemy  retreated,  and  the  Confede- 
rates took  possession  of  the  works.  The  Federals  re- 
tired to  Nashville  during  the  night  and  took  position 
behind  their  fortifications.  The  losses  on  both  sides 
were  fearful.  The  Confederates  lost  many  valuable 
officers  and  men — among  whom  were  Brigadier-gen- 
eral John  C.  Carter  and  Major-general  P.  R.  Cleburne. 
The  losses  of  the  Confederates  were,  in  proportion  to 
numbers  engaged,  greater  than  that  of  the  Federals. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  had  been  consolidated  into 
three  companies,  neither  of  which  was  full,  and  the 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  151 

ranks,  reduced  by  sickness  and  the  casualties  of  other 
campaigns  since  its  consolidation,  did  not  number  more 
than  a  hundred  effective  men  when  it  entered  the  bat- 
tle. Its  losses  were  sixteen  men  killed,  besides  a  large 
per  cent,  of  wounded.  The  killed  were:  Lieutenant 
F.  M.  Pettit,  Lieutenant  James  Green;  privates  John 
B.  Womack,  A.  J.  Kersy,  John  Driver,  Howard  Can- 
trell,  William  Wilhoit,  William  Thompson,  George 
Donnell,  A.  N.  Pepper,  C.  M.  Jordan,  John  Brown, 
Thomas  Hooper,  Samuel  Lusk,  Pleasant  Templeton. 
N.  B.  Hambrick. 

The  morning  of  December  i  was  spent  in  caring  for 
the  wounded  and  burying  the  dead.  The  battle-ground 
was  strewn  with  the  dead  and  dying  of  both  sides. 
Hood  made  the  best  disposal  of  his  wounded  that  his 
facilities  would  permit,  and  such  attention  was  paid 
to  the  dead  and  suffering  of  the  enemy  as  the  time  and 
circumstances  would  allow. 

On  the  morning  of  December  2,  Hood  moved  on- 
ward with  his  army  in  pursuit  of  Thomas  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Nashville.  Leaving  Franklin  about  9  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  march  was  kept  up  till  in  the  after- 
noon, when  the  spire  of  the  Capitol  could  be  seen  in 
the  distance.  A  halt  was  now  made  and  the  army 
encamped  for  the  "night.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d 
the  Confederates  took  position  on  the  Murfreesboro 
pike  and  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  The  guns 
from  the  Federal  defenses  began  to  shell  Hood's  lines 
at  a  rapid  and  furious  rate,  yet  he  held  his  position  here 
with  little  change  for  four  or  five  days.  The  weather 
had  become  intensely  cold.  A  heavy  rain  set  in,  which 
was  followed  by  sleet  and  snow.  The  Confederates 
had  no  tents  or  shelter  of  any  kind.  Many  of  the  sol- 
diers were  barefooted,  and  their  clothing  was  thin  and 


152          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

scant.  They  had  become  dependent  upon  the  country 
through  which  they  passed  for  supplies,  for  the  Con- 
federate base  had  been  destroyed.  The  situation  was 
desperate  in  the  extreme,  yet  the  men  stood  ready  to 
suffer  even  more  than  they  ever  had  suffered,  with  the 
hope  of  gaining  their  State  capital  and  rescuing  their 
homes  from  the  possession  of  the  enemy.  The  future 
was  all  dark  to  them,  yet  they  remembered  the  dark 
days  of  the  Revolution,  when  the  hopes  of  the  Colo- 
nies were  even  more  gloomy  than  theirs.  Their  object 
and  aim  were  to  gain  possession  of  the  capital  of  Ten- 
nessee, and  while  they  paused  not  to  consider  their  in- 
ability to  hold  the  place,  if  they  even  succeeded  in  tak- 
ing it,  they  left  it  all  to  the  wisdom  and  discretion  of 
their  commanders,  and  stood  ready,  in  the  midst  of 
hunger  and  privations  almost  without  parallel  in  his- 
tory, to  renew  the  conflict  to  the  last  and  sacrifice  their 
all  upon  the  altar  of  principle  and  in  behalf  of  a  cause 
which  they  believed  to  be  right. 

Matters  remained  thus  until  December  15,  when 
General  Hood  issued  orders  to  his  soldiers  to  be  in 
readiness  for  action  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  Feder- 
als had  been  heavily  reinforced,  and  were  threaten- 
ing his  left  wing.  Wright's  brigade  was  sent  around 
to  the  left,  where  the  enemy  came  out  in  force  and 
drove  back  both  the  flanks  of  Hood's  army.  Wright's 
brigade  formed  on  the  left  in  time  to  check  the  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter  for  a  while.  It  was 
now  dark,  and  the  action  was  suspended  for  the  night. 
The  Confederates  fortified  their  lines  through  the  night 
and  prepared  themselves  for  action  at  any  moment  the 
enemy  might  force  it  upon  them. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  December  16  the  enemy 
advanced  upon  the  Confederate's  position  with  spirit 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  153 

and  determination.  Cheatham's  division  held  its 
ground  on  the  left  throughout  the  greater  portion  of 
the  day.  Late  in  the  afternoon  a  heavy  reinforcement 
of  Federal  troops  came  in  from  the  Cumberland  river 
and  were  hurled  against  Hood's  lines  with  all  the  im- 
petuosity of  fresh  troops,  and  the  Confederates  began 
to  waver.  They  were  worn  out  with  constant  action, 
and  seeing  the  tide  turning  against  them  with  such  tre- 
mendous force,  the  disheartened  and  dejected  soldiers 
lost  much  of  the  spirit  that  had  ever  characterized 
them.  They  felt  that  all  was  lost,  and  that  the  issue  of 
the  war  was  to  be  decided  in  this  battle.  The  Federal 
columns  came  on,  and  the  Confederates  fought  with  all 
the  nerve  and  daring  of  troops  on  the  eve  of  a  decisive 
action.  The  Federal  lines,  strengthened  by  the  arrival 
of  so  many  fresh  troops,  became  too  powerful  for  the 
resistance  of  the  Confederate  lines  in  their  front. 
Hood's  lines  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  strength  at^the 
beginning  of  the  battle,  and  having  no  reserves  to 
throw  upon  their  weaker  points,  were  wholly  unable 
to  longer  withstand  so  powerful  an  onslaught.  The 
lines  wavered  about  the  center  for  a  while  and  finally 
giving  way,  the  exultant  Federals  pressed  in  at  the 
break  thus  made  and  exposed  each  wing  of  the  Con- 
federate lines  to  the  greatest  danger  of  capture.  The 
result  was  a  hasty  retreat  on  the  part  of  the  Confed: 
crates,  which  partook  much  of  the  nature  of  a  rout. 
The  losses  on  both  sides  were  moderate  compared  with 
those  at  the  battle  of  Franklin.  Many  of  the  Confed- 
erates were  captured,  and,  without  shoes  or  blankets, 
were  taken  on  freight  cars  to  Northern  prisons  during 
the  rigors  of  midwinter,  and  they  bore  the  privations 
bravely.  Arriving  at  prison,  they  were  supplied  with 
shoes  and  other  clothing  by  the  Federal  authorities, 


154          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

and  survived  the  struggle.  Hood  withdrew  his  army 
to  Franklin  on  December  16.  Halting  at  Franklin, 
provisions  were  issued  to  his  men,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  the  march  was  resumed  in  a  southerly  di- 
rection to  Rutherford  Creek.  The  enemy  was  in  hot 
pursuit.  At  Rutherford  Creek  Hood's  forces  engaged 
the  advance-guard  of  the  Federals.  The  engagement 
here  was  of  small  dimensions,  and  Hood  continued  his 
retreat  to  Columbia.  Arriving  at  Columbia  on  the 
night  of  December  19,  he  encamped  his  army  and  re- 
mained till  the  morning  of  the  2ist,  when  his  march 
was  resumed  and  continued  from  point  to  point  until 
he  finally  arrived  in  North  Cai'olina,  where  his  forces 
were  joined  to  those  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston, 
who  now  assumed  command,  and  Hood  was  known  in 
military  circles  but  little  more  during  the  remainder  of 
the  war. 

The  Confederate  forces  were  now  composed  of  the 
remnant  of  three- armies:  The  Army  of  Virginia,  com- 
manded by  General  Lee;  the  Army  in  North  Carolina, 
commanded  by  General  Johnston;  and  the  Army  of 
the  Trans  -  Mississippi  Department,  commanded  by 
General  Dick  Taylor.  The  destiny  of  the  Confederacy 
was  dark  and  unpropitious,  and  its  doom  was  sealed. 
Its  armies,  reduced  by  the  casualties  of  war  and  by  de- 
sertions, had  dwindled  down  to  a  mere  handful  of 
worn-out  veterans,  who,  though  knowing  that  the 
cause  was  lost  and  all  their  highest  hopes  and  bright- 
est anticipations  had  proved  to  be  mere  illusions  and 
permanently  put  to  flight,  they  felt  that  they  had  in- 
vested their  all  in  the  sequel,  and  many  were  ready  and 
willing  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  the  sinking  Confed- 
eracy to  the  last  throes  of  its  expiring  agonies,  and 
offer  themselves  as  a  final  sacrifice  upon  its  funeral 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  155 

pile.  There  were  others  who  had  long  since  beheld 
the  hopelessness  of  further  resistance,  and  had  been 
governed  accordingly,  especially  among  the  troops 
from  the  border  States  who  had  families.  "Many  of 
these  men,  who  had  made  good  soldiers  and  fought 
bravely  on  many  battle-fields,  and  whose  scars  told 
that  they  had  stood  where  danger  was  thick  and  heavy, 
began  to  leave  the  army  during  the  last  year  and  a  half 
of  the  war.  These  men,  as  they  had  made  good  sol- 
diei's  in  war,  were  equally  as  good  citizens  in  the  walks 
of  peace.  After  the  battle  of  Franklin,  many  of  the 
Tennessee  troops  went  to  their  homes  and  abandoned 
the  service  permanently.  They  had  been  true  and  re- 
liable soldiers,  and  they  felt  it  their  duty  to  take  care 
of  their  families  when  they  saw  that  further  resistance 
in  behalf  of  the  Confederacy  was  unavailing.  While 
many  of  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  Confederate  army 
thus  abandoned  the  struggle,  in  doing  so  they  did  what 
they  believed  to  be  their  duty  under  all  the  circum- 
stances. 

Hood's  army  had  been  reduced  largely  outside  of  the 
results  of  the  casualties  of  war.  Some  of  the  soldiers 
went  home  from  Chattanooga,  some  from  other  points, 
and  many  went  home  from  Franklin.  They  had  all 
made  good  soldiers  during  their  stay. 


THE  LAST  REORGANIZATION. 

At  Smithfield,  North  Carolina,  all  the  Tennessee 
troops  were  consolidated  into  one  brigade  of  three 
regiments  and  placed  under  the  command  of  General 
J.  B.  Palmer.  The  Eighth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty-eighth, 
Thirty  -  eighth,  and  Fifty-first  Tennessee  Regiments 


156          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

were  consolidated  with  a  part  of  Maney's  brigade  into 
one  regiment  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Col- 
onel Fields.  The  old  Sixteenth  was  consolidated  into 
two  companies,  one  of  which  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Hill,  of  General  Carter's  staff,  and  the  other 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  Frank 
York.  A.  F.  Claywell  was  adjutant  of  the  consoli- 
dated regiment,  and  made  out  its  last  official  report 
soon  after  its  consolidation.  The  surrender  followed 
in  a  few  days. 

The  three  armies,  thus  reduced  by  the  usual  casual- 
ties of  a  four  years'  war,  were  now  reduced  to  the  last 
extremity,  and  the  final  collapse  of  the  Confederacy 
was  a  mere  matter  of  time.  Hood's  army  had  gone 
through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  desperation  in  its  cam- 
paigns from  Marietta  to  Atlanta,  from  Atlanta  to  Nash- 
ville, and  thence  on  the  retreat  to  North  Carolina. 
Like  the  early  historic  adventure  of  De  Soto,  it  was  a 
visionary  attempt  to  accomplish  something  that  par- 
took of  the  romantic  in  its  conception,  though  grand 
and  magnificent  in  theory.  The  end  proved  the  i im- 
practicability of  the  theory.  Lured  on  by  the  fairy 
dreams  that  involved  the  accomplishment  of  impossi- 
bilities, the  Confederate  leader  wandered  from  place  to 
place,  driven  by  the  imperative  edict  of  stinging  want, 
and  forced  to  the  humiliating  resorts  of  desperation, 
finally  arrived  in  North  Carolina  with  the  broken 
and  shattered  remnants  of  a  once  powerful  army;  but 
reduced  by  death,  disease,  and  desertion,  until  this 
once  magnificent  army  of  the  Confederacy's  pride  and 
boast  was  but  the  mere  shadow  of  its  former  self.  Yet 
its  ranks  were  composed  of  men  who  had  been  tried 
on  so  many  hard-fought  battle-fields,  and  in  endurance, 
in  courage,  in  fidelity  to  trust,  and  devotion  to  princi- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  157 

pie,  they  had  stood  a  multitude  of  the  severest  tests. 
In  no  instance  had  they  ever  been  found  wanting. 
Braver  men  never  lived.  Truer  men  never  drew  the 
blade.  This  phalanx,  the  remnant  of  Hood's  army, 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  the  old  chieftain 
whom  they  loved  and  honored.  The  men  rejoiced  at 
the  change.  They  knew  the  courage  and  prudence, 
as  well  as  the  superior  skill,  of  General  Johnston;  and 
while  they  had  followed  Hood  through  all  his  wander- 
ings of  rashness  and  indiscretion,  they  respected  his 
bravery,  and  devotion  to  the  cause  he  had  vowed  to  de- 
fend. The  gallant  old  Sixteenth  Regiment  had  been 
with  Hooa  s  army  through  all  its  trying  vicissitudes 
and  its  historic  campaigns.  From  Dalton  to  Atlanta, 
from  Atlanta  to  Nashville,  and  from  Nashville  and 
Fra-nklin  through  all  its  wanderings,  to  the  surrender 
at  Greensboro  on  April  26,  1865.  Its  dead  lie  sleeping 
upon  every  battle-field  from  Cheat  Mountain  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic 
and  the  Gulf.  Its  sick  and  wounded  surrendered  a 
large  per  cent,  of  their  number  to  the  demands  of  the 
destroyer,  Death,  and  their  bodies  lie  sleeping  in  their 
narrow  homes  in  the  far-off  lands  of  the  stranger,  along 
with  their  comrades  who  surrendered  their  lives  upon 
the  battle-fields.  While  they  had  surrendered  the  com- 
forts and  endearments  of  a  quiet  and  happy  domestic  life 
to  bare  their  bosoms  to  the  invader  and  offer  up  their 
lives  upon  the  altar  of  their  country  in  behalf  of  a 
cause  and  principle  which  they  believed  to  be  right 
and  just,  their  memory  will  ever  live  in  the  hearts  and 
and  be  enshrined  in  the  affections  of  their  surviving 
comrades,  and  all  who  may  appreciate  the  exalted  and 
noble  qualities  of  fidelity  to  duty  and  devotion  to  prin- 
ciple. 


158          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

The  dead,  the  maimed,  and  diseased,  at  the  time  of 
the  surrender,  constituted  two  thirds  of  its  original 
number,  inclusive  of  its  recruits.  Its  effective  total 
was  scarcely  a  fifth.  This  gallant  remnant  fought 
bravely  until  the  time  came  when  they  could  fight  no 
longer;  and  when  they  were  surrendered  by  their  su- 
perior officer  they  laid  down  their  arms  with  the  dig- 
nity of  men  who  had  fought  a  good  fight,  and  accepted 
the  generous  terms  which  their  gallantry  elicited  at 
the  hands  or*  their  adversaries.  Vanquished  in  arms, 
but  not  in  spirit  or  principle,  they  accepted  the  situa- 
tion like  men;  and  as  they  had  defended  their  cause 
through  a  four-years'  war  upon  the  principTe  of  integ- 
rity and  honor,  they  bestowed  the  same  sterling  quali- 
ties in  faithfully  and  conscientiously  complying  with 
the  terms  of  their  surrender  and  the  observance  of  the 
stipulations  of  their  parole  of  honor.  Thus  the  gal- 
lant old  "  Sixteenth,"  in  company  with  the  other  regi- 
ments of  the  Confederacy,  laid  aside  the  implements 
and  paraphernalia  of  war  and  donned  the  happy  and 
quiet  habiliments  of  peace.  As  they  had  been  faith- 
ful, valiant,  and  true  in  all  the  phases  of  their  duty  as 
soldiers,  so  they  became  equally  faithful,  industrious, 
energetic,  and  honorable  in  the  quiet  walks  of  peace. 
Many  settled  down  at  their  childhood  homes  and  threw 
all  their  energies  into  the  work  of  recuperating  and  re- 
gaining their  lost  fortunes.  Others,-including  young 
men,  emigrated  to  the  South-west — to  Texas,  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  and  California — and  engaged  in  agriculture. 
Others  went  to  the  North-western  cities  and  engaged 
in  business.  Within  twelve  months  after  the  surren- 
der, members  of  the  old  Sixteenth  could  be  found  scat- 
tered through  the  North-western  cities  and  over  the 
Western  and  South-western  States,  all  intent  upon 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  159 

business  with  a  view  to  regaining  their  losses.  Years 
passed  by,  and  many  of  them  returned  to  the  land  of 
their  nativity.  The  men,  after  the  war,  were  gener- 
ally industrious,  frugal,  and  honorable,  and  made  suc- 
cessful business  men  and  good  citizens. 

Twelve  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  sur- 
render of  the  Confederate  armies,  there  was  a  re-union 
of  the  old  Sixteenth  Tennessee  at  McMinnville.  About 
three  hundred  of  the  survivors  of  the  regiment  met  in 
McMinnville  on  the  public  square,  and*proceeded  to 
the  Fair  Grounds,  where  they  enjoyed  a  sumptuous 
dinner  prepared  for  the  occasion.  The  rolls  were 
called  by  Companies,  and  every  man,  as  his  name  was 
called,  answered,  if  present;  if  absent,  he  was  ac- 
counted for  if  livmg  or  dead.  If  living,  his  place  of 
residence  was  given;  if  dead,  the  place  and  manner  of 
his  death  was  made  known.  Speeches  were  made  by 
Colonel  John  H.  Savage,  Colonel  T.  B. -Murray,  and 
Captain  J.  J.  Womack. 

The  following  account  of  the  re-union  appeared  in 
the  McMinnville  Neiv  Era,  of  October  n,  1877: 

THE  REUNION  OF  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT  AT 
MCMINNVILLE,  ON  FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  5,  1877. 

A  reunion  of  Savage's  regiment  was  held  in  McMinnville  on 
Friday,  October  5,  1877.  The  day  was  pleasant,  and  the  assem- 
bly a  vast  one,  numbering  between  three  and  four  thousand.  A 
more  orderly  and  well-behaved  crowd  never  assembled  in  our 
town.  No  drunkenness,  no  boisterous  or  loud  talking,  no  quar- 
reling or  fussing  of  any  kind;  and  this  feeling  pervaded  the  en- 
tire assembly  throughout  the  day.  The  remains  of  the  regiment 
were  formed  on  the  public  square  at  10  o'clock,  and  marched  to 
the  Fair  Grounds  under  the  stars  and  stripes,  headed  by  Colonel 
Savage,  mounted  on  a  spirited  white  horse.  As  the  regiment 
filed  out  on  our  streets  with  its  four  hundred  or  less  men  in  ranks, 


160          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

thoughts  of  the  day  when  it  left  our  depot  in  1861,  full  of  life, 
and  its  ranks  numbering  over  a  thousand  souls,  filled  the  minds 
of  all  who  witnessed  that  occasion,  and  the  absence  of  so  vast  a 
number  from  its  ranks  on  its  return  filled  the  hearts  of  those 
present  with  remembrances  of  the  noble  dead,  and  the  spring- 
fountain  of  affection  burst  its  bounds  and  filled  the  eyes  of  hun- 
dreds with  the  silent  tear  of  love  and  affection  for  the  memory 
of  those  who  sleep  in  the  silent  and  unmarked  graves  of  the  va- 
rious battle-fields  in  which  the  noble  old  regiment  participated. 
It  was  a  pleasant  occasion,  and  even  the  sadness  lent  additional 
charms  and  bound  the  remnant  in  closer  bonds  of  eternal  friend- 
ship and  fraternal  feelings.  Arriving  at  the  Fair  Grounds,  the 
welcome  address  was  delivered  by  Colonel  Savage,  in  which  he 
said: 

"Soldiers  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Infantry,  C.  S.  A., 
friends  and  Comrades,  Toadies  and  Gentlemen: — It  is  my  pleas- 
ant duty,  under  the  direction  of  our  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments, to  extend  to  all  of  this  large  assembly,  whether  citizen  or 
soldier,  rebel  or  federal,  a  cordial  welcome.  What  is  said  or 
done  here  to-day  we  are  willing  for  the  world  to  see  and  hear; 
but  nothing  will  be  said  or  done  intended  in  the  least  to  wound 
the  feelings  of  a  single  human  heart. 

"  The  sound  of  hostile  cannon  and  the  shout  of  contending 
armies  are  heard  no  more  within  our  borders,  and  much  better 
would  it  have  been  for  the  American  people  if  deadly  hate  and 
bitter  words  had  been  banished  far  away  at  the  same  time. 

"  The  war  came — it  is  not  my  purpose  now  to  say  who  brought 
it  on,  or  who  was  right  or  who  was  wrong,  or  whether  misfor- 
tune or  miscondurt  of  rulers  caused  the  result.  The  historians, 
long  after  we  have  slept  in  the  grave,  will  write  and  settle  these 
questions.  It  is  enough  for  me  to  say,  comrades,  that  we  who 
still  live,  and  our  dead  brothers  in  arms,  many  of  whom  to-day 
sleep  upon  lonely  mountain  or  in  some  desolate  plain,  in  graves 
unmarked  and  unknown  to  human  eye,  and  our  mothers  and  fa- 
thers, our  kindred  and  neighbors,  then  believed  we  were  right. 
We  '  lost  the  cause,'  and  now  submit  to  the  victor  as  become  gal- 
lant soldiers,  but  neither  armies  of  artillery  ha-ve  power  over  the 
mind. 

"  We  are  here  to-day  to  honor  the  dead.     They  fought  for 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  161 

principle — not  for  fame,  power,  plunder,  or  party.  They  offered 
themselves  a  sacrifice  to  the  god  of  battles  to  maintain  the  con- 
stitution as  it  tuas;  but  we,  the  living,  must  obey  it  as  it  is.  They 
sought  to  rule  nobody  but  themselves,  which  they  claimed  the 
right  to  do  without  molestation  from  kings  or  armies.  For  four 
long  years,  almost  without  pay,  upon  scant  rations,  badly  armed 
and  clad,  the  Southern  soldiers  stood  against  more  than  double 
their  numbers,  sustained  by  Europe  as  a  recruiting  station,  and 
by  a  greater  expenditure  of  money  than  any  the  world  has  ever 
known  before — courage,  patriotism,  and  a  sense  of  duty,  being 
the  only-  bonds  that  held  the  Southern  soldiers  in  the  ranks. 
The  memory  of  brave  men  who  fell  in  such  a  cause  may  live  for 
ages — indeed  it  mav  never  die.  It  is  not  alwavs  the  fame  of  the 

O  J  a/ 

conqueror  that  lives  longest  and  shines  brightest  upon  the  pages 
of  history.  But  this  subject  is  delicate,  and  perhaps  enough  has 
been  said  in  that  direction;  and  what  has  been  said  is  intended 
for  no  other  purpose  than  to  show  that  there  is  nothing  in  the 
past  to  shadow  the  fame  or  conscience  of  the  Confederate  sol- 
diers. 

"And  now,  comrades,  as  your  old  commander,  who  shared 
with  vou  many  dangers,  and  who  never  ceased  to  care  for  your 
honor  and  welfare,  I  hope  I  may  say  without  offense  to  any  that 
your  deeds  upon  the  field  entitle  you  to  share  in  the  honors  and 
misfortunes  of  the  lost  cause,  and  proclaim  you  the  equal  of  the 
best  regiment  in  the  service.  It  is  right  that  we  should  meet  in 
tears  for  the  heroic  dead — rre  never  should  forget  them,  and  they 
deserve  to  be  remembered  by  the  country.  To  live  in  the  mem- 
orv  of  thve  world  and  of  those  we  love  is  a  heavenly  instinct — 
man's  most  powerful  incentive  to  good.  I  remember  a  French 
general  (Dessaix)  who  won  Tor  Napoleon  a  great  battle,  falling 
mortally  wounded  in  the  last  charge.  His  last  words  were,  'I  die 
with  the  regret  only  that  I  have  not  done  enough  to  be  remem- 
bered by  my  country.'  Our  young  brothers,  bright,  buoyant,  and 
brave,  fell  upon  disastrous  battle-fields.  They  have  no  inherit- 
ance in  the  land;  the  only  thing  earthly  that  yet  remains  to  them 
is  the  affection  and  remembrance  of  their  brothers  in  arms  and 
of  the  people  in  defense  of  whose  rights  they  offered  up  their 
lives.  This  reunion  to-day  means  that  their  memory  shall  not 
perish  like  brutes  of  the  field,  for  they  were  men  with  immortal 

11 


1 62          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

spirits.  Our  government,  with  public  money,  builds  imposing 
monuments  over  the  federal  brave,  but  we  are  forced  to  humbler 
methods.  We  intend  to  call  the  roll  to-day  and  hope  to  account 
for  each  soldier,  the  living  and  the  dead;  and  when  the  rolls  are 
completed  we  intend  to  print  them  and  give  to  each  living  sol- 
dier, or  to  his  representative  when  dead,  a  copy  to  be  kept  as  a 
perpetual  memento  of  the  part  their  kindred  and  neighbors  bore 
in  the  great  war.  It  is  my  duty  to  thank  this  large  and  attentive 
audience  for  their  presence  here  to-day.  It  shows  that  their 
hearts  are  with  the  soldiers  still.  And  ladies,  I  know  I  utter  the 
sentiments  of  every  soldier  when  I  say,  a  thousand  thanks  to 
you  for  your  presence  and  assistance  at  this  meeting.  It  is  hard 
to  believe  that  any  cause  is  wrong  that  is  approved  by  your 
smiles.  I  may  well  liken  woman  to  a  good  angel  sent  from 
heaven  to  bind  up  the  wounds  and  shed  eternal  tears  over  the 
follies  and  misfortunes  of  man.  We  now  call  the  roll  to  see  who 
still  lives,  and  who  has  gone  from  us  forever." 

The  regiment  was  formed  in  line,  and  the  orderlies  called  the 
rolls  of  their  respective  companies,  carefully  noting  the  history,  so 
far  as  known,  of  every  member  of  the  regiment,  giving  the  pres- 
ent residence,  so  far  as  known,  of  the  living,  and  the  time,  place, 
and  manner  of  death  of  the  dead.  These  rolls  will  be  published, 
as  promised  by  Colonel  Savage,  so  soon  as  they  are  perfected. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  remarks  by  Colonol  Savage,  Colonel 
Thomas  B.  Murray  was  loudly  called  for,  and  responded  in  an 
impromptu  speech  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  in  one  of  his  happi- 
est strains,  in  which  he  said  that  he  had  not  come  there  to  speak, 
but  to  grasp  his  old  comrades  by  the  hand  and  talk  over  the  trials 
of  the  days  that  tried  men's  souls.  He  said  the  occasion  brought 
sadness  to  his  heart.  He  had  left  here  on  May  i,  1861,  with  108 
of  the  noble  sons  of  Warren — the  sons  of  the  best  men  in  War- 
ren county.  He  looked  around  him  to-day  and  saw  many  famil- 
iar faces;  he  also  saw  many  vacant  seats.  He  asked  where  were 
the  Thompsons,  the  Mauzys,  Webbs,  Smartts,  Yorks,  Marberrys, 
Spurlocks,  Hacketts,  and  many  others  too  tedious  to  mention. 
They  were  the  pride  and  chivalry  of  the  land.  They  had  fallen 
in  defense  of  what  they  believed  right,  and  he  had  an  abiding 
confidence  that  they  had  met  their  reward  in  a  better  land. 

He  said  he  and  his  comrades  believed  the  South  took  up  arms, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


163 


not  for  slavery,  but  for  the  doctrine  of  State's  Rights,  upon 
which  a  republican  government  depends  in  this  country.  They 
had  failed  in  arms,  but  had  triumphed  on  an  appeal  addressed  to 
the  intelligence  of  the  people.  That  a  Republican  President  was 
to-day  administering  the  government  on  democratic  or  State's 
rights  principles.  He  denied  that  he  rebelled  against. the  stars 
and  stripes  that  floated  over  him — he  was  as  true  to  them  as 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  T.  B.  MURRAY. 

Grant  or  Sherman.  He  cared  nothing  for  flags  except  so  far  as 
they  represented  principles.  He  would  follow  the  stars  and 
stripes  as  far  as  he  did  the  stars  aad  bars,  so  long  as  they  were 
the  emblem  of  principle.  He  described  the  condition  of  the 
half-fed,  half-clothed  Confederate  soldiers  in  March,  1865,  in  and 


164          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

around  Richmond,  their  ranks  decimated  by  hunger  and  by  sick- 
ness, and  nothing  but  defeat  and  ruin  staring  them  in  the  face. 
He  described  the  Confederate  ship  as  it  went  down;  and  the 
faithful  soldier,  in  the  last  hours  of  the  struggle,  folding  his 
arms  and  going  down  with  the  cause  for  which  he  had  sacrificed 
so  much,  and  asked  the  question,  What  government  could  not 
trust  such  men  when  they  had  plighted  their  faith  ?  He  then 
addressed  the  ladies,  and  told  them  what  their  sex  had  suffered 
for  religion  and  liberty,  and  how  faithful  they  were  to  the  lost 
cause.  He  expressed  the  hope  that  these  reunions  would  be  con- 
tinued as  long  as  the  old  Sixteenth  could  muster  as  many  as  a 
corporal's  guard;  not  to  encourage  rebellion,  but  to  promote 
fidelity  to  principle. 

Captain  J.  J.  Womack  was  next  called  for,  who  in  response, 
briefly  alluded  to  the  organization  of  his  company  as  the  first  or- 
ganized in  the  Mountain  District,  and  to  its  perils  and  privations 
in  common  with  the  other  companies  of  the  regiment  during  the 
war,  and  then  passed  rapidly  over  the  history  of  the  times  to  the 
beginning  of  the  present  administration. 

He  declined  to  dwell  upon  the  unfortunate  administration  of 
General  Grant,  preferring  to  speak  of  the  present  as  that  from 
which  the  country,  the  whole  country,  had  something  to  hope  for. 
He  expressed  strong  confidence  in  President  Hayes,  and  believed 
that  under  his  administration,  wisely  and  patriotically  begun,  the 
entire  country  would,  in  the  near  future,  enjoy  far  greater  pros- 
perity than  it  had  since  1860.  He  rejoiced  to  hear  the  President 
of  the  United  States  announce  that  the  soldiers  in  the  recent  war 
between  the  States,  Confederate  and  Federal,  were  equally  justi- 
fiable in  the  part  they  took  in  that  unfortunate  struggle.  He  be- 
lieved this  the  true  ground  for  all  to  take — the  only  ground  upon 
which  all  could  agree — and  if  it  had  been  taken  when  the  Con- 
federate army  surrendered,  and  Southern  people  had  been  recog- 
nized as  peers,  and  not  as  vassals,  the  country  might  have  been 
financially  and  socially  far  in  advance  of  its  present  condition. 
In  closing,  he  thanked  the  mothers,  wives,  and  sisters,  for  their 
care  and  sympathy  while  on  the  tented  fields,  and  the  assembly 
for  the  invitation  to  address  them. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  by  Captain  Womack,  Colonel 
J.  W.  Clift,  ex-Federal,  addressed  the  audience  in  a  happy  man- 


TENNESSEB  VOLUNTEERS.  165 

ner,  and  was  followed  by  W.  V.  Whitson,  Esq.,  of  Forrest's  cav- 
alry, and  Professor  W.  M.  Janes,  of  Georgia.  At  the  conclusion 
of  these  addresses,  Colonel  Savage  dismissed  the  large  crowd, 
which  immediately  repaired  to  town,  after  having  spent  a  pleas- 
ant day,  and  one  that  will  always  be  remembered  in  the  kindest 
feeling. 


1 66          THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


CHAPTER    VII. 

MUSTER  ROLLS. 

COMPANY  A. 

OFFICERS. 

L.  K.  Savage,  Captain.  B.  M.  Magness,  Third  Sergeant. 

Iraby  C.  Stone,  First  Lieutenant.  T.  B.  Potter,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

John  K.  Ba'n,  Second  Lieutenant.  J.  W.  Harris,  First  Corporal. 

R.  B.  Anderson,  Third  Lieutenant.  L.  G.  Bing,  Second  Corporal. 

G.  W.  Witt,  First  Sergeant.  M.  L.  Cantrell,  Third  Corporal. 

G.  L.  Talley,  Second  Sergeant.  Samuel  M.  Philips,  Fourth  Corporal. 

PRIVATES. 

William  Adcock.  D.  W.  Cantrell. 

E.  K.  Adcock.  Leonard  Cantrell. 

Isaac  Adcock.  W.  C.  Cantrell. 

Benjamin  Atnip.  Thomas  Cherry. 

E.  L.  Atnip.  Isaac  Congo. 

John  Atnip.  John  W.  Colwell. 

Larkiu  Bain.  Watson  Cantrell. 

B.  W.  Banks.  Isaac  Cantrell. 

James  Bing.  Peter  Cantrell. 

W.  H.  Bing.  P.  G.  Cantrell. 

Phineas  Bozarth.  A.  M.  Cantrell. 

Joseph  H.  Bozarth.  George  P.  Cantrell. 

James  Bozarth.  Martin  Cantrell. 

J.  A.  Briggs.  June  Driver. 

W.  H.  Cunningham.  W.  L.  Driver. 

J.  H.  Cantrell.  Isaiah  Driver. 

U.  E.  Cantrell.  C.  B  Davis. 

J.  R.  Cantrell.  Meredith  Duwese. 

James  Cautrell.  D.  C.  Doller. 

Jehu  Cantrell.  Thomas  Dozier. 

John  Cantrell.  Martin  Delong. 

M.  L.  Cantrell.  Watt  Eastham. 

James  Cantrell.  H.  C.  Eastham. 

I.  D.  Cantrell.  J.  B.  Fisher. 

W.  H.  Cantrell.  S.  M.  Fulton. 

L.  D.  Cantrell.  Calvin  Fowler. 

B.  M.  Cautrell.  Samuel  Hathaway. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


167 


Len  Hathaway. 

Charles  Pullin. 

W.  A.  Hallum. 

Robert  Pullin. 

B.  M.  Hicks. 

W.  C.  Potter. 

Dallas  Hicks. 

O.  D.  Potter. 

William  Herron. 

Thomas  Potter. 

T.  M.  Hooper. 

J.  D-.  Philips. 

T.  A.  Hooper. 

Samuel  M.  Philips. 

Dick  Hooper. 

David  Pittman. 

James  Hooper. 

Robert  Rowland. 

Richard  Jones. 

Jesse  Redman. 

J.  W.  Johnson. 

Ben  Rowland. 

E.  S.  James. 

Dick  Richardson. 

John  James. 

W.  Richardson. 

W.  L.  Judkins. 

T.  J.  Richardson. 

Ben  Judkins. 

James  Rigsby. 

F.  E.  P.  Kennedy. 

W.  G.  Stevens. 

James  Koger. 

John  Stevens. 

Pomp  Kersey. 

,     J.  M.  Stevens. 

A.  J.  Kersey. 

W.  B.  Sweeney. 

Felix  Kersey. 

A.  Simpson. 

Calvin  Kersey. 

A  J.  Smith. 

Enoch  League. 

Burdine  Smith. 

Enoch  Lockhart. 

Noah  Smith. 

John  Lafever. 

Henry  Seawelle. 

John  Mason. 

H.  C.  Tate. 

Bud  Miller. 

J.  R.  Thompson. 

L.  D.  Moore. 

Fielding  Turner. 

John  Moore. 

Garrison  Taylor. 

W.  C.  Moore. 

Ross  Unchurch. 

J.  A.  Moore. 

John  Van  Hosser. 

John  Martin. 

L.  R.  Witt. 

W.  P.  Martin. 

W.  Walls. 

Thomas  Martin. 

John  Womack. 

W.  B.  Martin. 

P.  G.  Webb. 

Robert  Martin. 

I.  C.  Webb. 

Jasper  Martin. 

D.  B.  Worley. 

Reuben  Meeks. 

W.  M.  Womaek. 

R.  W.  McGinnis. 

W.  M.  Wilmoth. 

Elisha  McGinnis. 

John  E.  Warren. 

G.  W.  Maynard. 

J.  B.  Wilkinson. 

J.  M.  Pertle. 

B.  C.  Wilkinson. 

KILLED. 

Capt.  L.  N.  Savage,  Murfreesboro.         J.  H.  Cantrell,  Perryville. 
Lieut.  R.  B.  Anderson,  Murfreesboro.  James  Cantrell,  Perryville. 
Lirut.  <i.  W.  Witt,  Mufreesboro.  W.  H.  Cantrell,  Franklin. 

M.  L.  Cautrell,  Perryville.  James  Driver,  Franklin. 

Benjamin  Atnip,  Georgia.  Thomas  Dozier,  Atlanta. 

Watt  Eastham,  Atlanta.  S.  M.  Fulton,  Atlanta. 


i68 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


W.  A.  Hallum,  Murfreesboro. 
T.  A.  Hooper,  Franklin. 
F.  E.  B.  Kennedy,  Perryville. 
A.  J.  Kersey,  Franklin. 
Felix  Kersey,  Murfreesboro. 
Enoch  Lsague,  Murfreesboro. 
Enoch  Lockhart,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  C.  Moore,  Perryville. 


Robert  Martin,  Franklin. 

Robert  Rowland,  Perryville. 

William  Richardson,  Atlanta. 

A.  Simpson,  Atlanta. 

H.  C.  Tate,  Lost  Mountain. 

P.  G.  Webb,  Perryville. 

John  E.  Warren,  Murfreesboro. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 
Win.  Adcock,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861.      Elisha  McGinnis,  Unknown. 


James  Bing,  Prison,  1864. 
W.  H.  Bing,  Prison,  1864. 
William  Herron,  Georgia,  1864. 
Richard  Hooper,  Georgia,  1864. 
James  Hooper,  S.  C.,  1862. 
J.  A.  Moore,  Home,  1863. 


O.  D.  Potter,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 
Thos.  Potter,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 
L.  R.  Witt,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 
Win.  Walls,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 
Wm.  Womack,  Huntersville,  1861. 
John  Womack,  Missing,  Ga.,  1864. 


WOUNDED. 


Capt.  G.  L.  Talley,  Chickamauga. 

S.  G.  Bing,  Perryville. 

R.  M.  Magness,  Perryville. 

Samuel  M.  Philips,  Perryville. 

Isaac  Adcock,  Resaca. 

E.  L.  Atnip,  Atlanta. 

R  M.  Banks,  Perryville. 

B.  M.  Cantrell,  PerryvilK 

D.  W.  Cantrell,  Perryville. 

T.  M.  Hooper,  Perryville. 

Richard  Jones,  Perryville. 

Fielding  Turner,  Perryville. 

PROMOTED. 

T.  B.  Potter,  Sergeant  Major,  1861.        W.  C.  Potter,  1st  Lieut.,  1863. 
R.  B.  Anderson,  1st  Lieut.,  1862.  J.  C.  Webb,  2d  Lieut.,  1863. 

G.  W.  Witt,  2d  Lieut.,  1862.  L.  R.  Witt,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 

G.  L.  Talley,  3d  Lieut.,  1862,  Capt.,  1863. 


Peter  Cantrell,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Lafever,  Murfreesboro. 
Garrison  Taylor,  Murfreesboro. 
B.  C.  Wilkinson,  Murfreesboro. 
G.  W.  Cohvell,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  W.  Johnson,  Franklin. 
John  Mason,  Perryville. 
W.  L.  Judkins,  Atlanta. 
W.  C.  Potter,  Chickamauga. 
J.  C.  Webb,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  R.  Thompson,  Atlanta. 


COMPANY    B. 


OFFICERS. 


C.  C.  Brewer,  Captain. 

S.  G,  Crocker,  First  Lieutenant. 
G.  W.  Turner,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Jo.  E.  Bashaw,  Third  Lieutenant. 

D.  W.  Tucker,  First  Sergeant. 

J.  H.  L.  Duncan,  Second  Sergeant. 


L.  P.  Campbell,  Third  Sergeant. 
M.  A.  Messick,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
iR.  C.  Carden,  First  Corporal. 
Russel  Brewer,  Second  Corporal. 
L.  B  Campbell,  Third  Corporal. 
A.  M.  Green,  Fourth  Corporal. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


169 


PRIVATES. 

Daniel  Anderson. 

John  Gaither. 

C.  K.  Alnian. 

R.  E.  Garrett. 

Lytle  Adams. 

Henry  Herndon. 

L.  J.  Butler. 

J.  W.  Hatfield. 

"    John  Brown. 

Riley  Howard. 

James  Brown,  sr. 

I.  H.  Hawkins.                  . 

James  Brown,  jr. 

G.  W.  Haggard. 

Joseph  Brown. 

J.  K.  P.  Haggard. 

Lewis  Burton. 

James  Hawkes. 

D.  C.  Burton. 

Isaac  Howard. 

T.  B.  Butler. 

Wade  Henderson. 

C.  H.  Butler. 

Elmer  Hodge. 

F.  M.  Boyd. 

Robert  Hill. 

Thomas  Burroughs. 

H.  P.  J.  Hathcock. 

E.  M.  Bashaw. 

Richard  Hitson. 

J.  K.  Butler. 

James  Kilgore. 

Anderson  Brown. 

W.  C.  King. 

G.  R.  Campbell. 

Isaiah  King. 

James  Garden. 

G.  W.  Kennedy. 

Wiley  Calhoun. 

Thomas  H.  B.  Long. 

J.  A.  Garden. 

Buck  Lowry. 

F.  H.  Church. 

Thomas  Lewis. 

W.  C.  Campbell. 

Alexander  Langley. 

W.  B.  T.  Campbell. 

C  G.  Lance. 

W.  C.  Crocker. 

Joseph  Massengale. 

,     Noah  Clay. 

R.  C.  Messick. 

Thomas  Campbell. 

R.  J.  Messick. 

Thomas  Douglas. 

J.  W.  Messick. 

Osborn  Dye. 

G.  H.  Messick. 

Lacy  Dye. 

James  McGuire. 

George  Davis. 

U.  S.  McDaniel. 

F.  M.  Daniel. 

Grift.  Myers. 

William  Daniel. 

P.  H.  McBride. 

Thomas  Daniel. 

J.  W.  Mullins. 

James  Dickerson. 

Moses  Messick. 

Leroy  Dye. 

G.  J.  Newman. 

\V.  L.  Ensey. 

John  Oldfield. 

J.  K.  Ensey. 

James  Popf. 

J.  K.  P.  Foster. 

James  Paxton. 

William  Foster. 

R.  W.  Purdom. 

Dennis  Faulin. 

Samuel  Phelps. 

W.  H.  Fisher. 

W.  A.  Powers. 

James  Fuller. 

Homer  Powers. 

George  Frazier. 

Thomas  Parker. 

Carrol  Fultz. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Ritchey. 

Wiley  Ford. 

J.  W.  Robinson. 

Alexander  Farmer. 

M.  D.  Record. 

G.  W.  Freeman. 

G.  W.  Sain. 

170 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


A.  P.  Sherrill. 

J.  M.  Williams. 

W.  V.  Stevens. 

William  Wiser. 

Philburn  Stevens.- 

Isaiah  Wiser. 

Ezekiel  Sinartt. 

J.  D.  Wiser. 

K.  J.  Smotherniiui. 

Thomas  Wiser. 

Isaac  Spangler. 

Awris  Wilson. 

•    J.  A.  Smith. 

Curtes  West. 

O.  P.  Tucker. 

J.  A.  West. 

T.  H.  Tucker. 

Jacob  Walker. 

Robert  Tucker. 

Elisba  Walker. 

J.  R.  Taylor. 

John  Walker. 

Janies  Taylor. 

William  Young. 

Merk  Thomas. 

James  Young. 

Robert  Vickery. 

John  Young. 

W.  B.  Ward. 

Mordecai  Yell. 

William  Ward. 

Pierce  Yell. 

E.  W.  Walker. 

Pleasant  Yell. 

KILLED. 

Capt.  C.  C.  Brewer,  in  Cavalry  (trans-  Elmer  Hodge,  Perryville. 

ferred),  1864.  William  Wiser,  Perryville. 

Joseph  Brown,  Atlanta.  Isaiah  Wiser,  Perryville. 

F.  H.  Church,  Murfreesboro.  G.  L.  Freeman,  Ky.,  (in  Cavalry). 

Wiliiam  C.  Crocker,  Dalton.  Dennis  Faulin,  Murfreesboro. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

Lieut,  G.  W.  Turner,  Va.,  1864.  Isaac  Howard,  W.  Va. 

Lieut.  J.  E.  Bashaw,  Chattanooga,  1865.  Robert  Hill,  Unknown. 


Lytle  Adams,  Prison,  1864. 
Thomas  Burroughs,  Va.,  1861. 
Noah  Clay,  Ky.,  1862. 
Osborne  Dye,  W.  Va.,  1861. 
G.  W.  Freeman,  Ky.,  1864. 
3.  K.  P.  Haggard,  Unknown. 
James  Hawkes,  Tullahoma,  1863. 
Wade  Henderson,  Camp  Trousdale, 
1861. 

WOUNDED. 


H.  P.  J.  Hathcock,  Prison,  1864. 

T.  H.  B.  Long,  Ga.,  1863. 

Lieut.  T.  W.  Lewis,  Atlanta,  1864. 

Alex.  Langley,  East  Tenn.,  1864. 

R.  J.  Messick,  Ga.,  1862. 

G.  J.  Newman,  Unknown. 

G.  W.  Sain,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 

John  Walsh,  Unknown. 


W.  C.  King,  Murfreesboro. 


Thomas  H.  Douglas,  Murfreesboro. 


PROMOTED. 


J.  H.  L.  Duncan,  Capt.,  1862. 

E.  W.  Walker,  1st  Lieut  ,  1862. 

John  K.  Ensey.  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 

W.  H.  Fisher,  3d  Lieut  ,  1863. 

E.  W.  Walker,  Capt.,  1864. 

G.  R.  Campbell,  Quartermaster,  1861. 


T.  W.  Lewis,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 
P.  H.  McBride,  Capt,  Cavalry,  1862. 
James  B.  Rickey,  Quartermaster,  1863. 
Elisha  Walker,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 
James  McGuire,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


171 


COMPANY  C. 


OFFICERS. 


D.  M.  Don n ell,  Captain. 

Wright  S.  Hackett,  First  Lieutenant. 

E.  C.  Keed,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  Castteiuan,  Third  Lieutenant. 
A.  J.  Brown,  First  Sergeant. 
Harrison  Smith,  Second  Sergeant. 
I>avid  Ramsey,  Third  Sergeant. 


John  Cope,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
Thomas  North,  Fifth  Sergeant. 
L.  D.  Mercer,  First  Corporal. 
H.  H.  Faulkner,  Second  Corporal. 
William  Wooten,  Third  Corporal. 
Philander  Wood,  Fourth  Corpora 


PKIVATES. 


S.  H.  Alexander. 
S.  II.  Allison. 
C.  B.  Aired. 
C.  G.  Blaok. 
Thomas  Black. 
Thomas  B.  Biles. 
James  C.  Biles. 
Asbury  Biles. 
W.  A.  Bell. 
Harrison  Biles. 
Thomas  Bonner. 
W.  J.  Bonner. 
J.  W.  Bybee. 
Richard  Bybee. 
A.  Blackburn. 
Michael  Blackburn. 
James  Blackburn. 
E.  A.  Braxton. 
W.  T.  Brixey. 
Calvin  Brixey. 
W.  L.  Brawley. 
Reese  Brewster. 
John  Brewster. 
J.  L.  Bryant. 
William  Blanton. 
John  Cunningham. 
J.  T.  Cannon. 
J.  B.  Carter. 
A.  F.  Claywell. 
John  Bennington. 
George  Donnell. 
Walter  Davenport. 
Thomas  H.  Faulkner. 
Robert  French. 
J.  Fallman. 
James  Gibbs. 
Calvin  Glenn. 


B.  T.  Groves. 
J.  H.  Greer. 
Thomas  Greer. 
Romulus  Gwynn. 
L.  C.  Harp. 
R.  C.  Henderson. 
D.  B.  Hoover. 
William  Hoover. 
W.  S.  Hill. 
J.  D.  W.  Hill. 
Peter  Hansboro. 
W.  M.  Harding. 
J.  J.  Hensley. 
James  Hobbs. 
John  Herriman. 
John  Hennegar. 
Wyatt  Hitts. 
Dr.  Johnson. 
D.  W.  King. 
H.  J.  King. 
John  King. 
Henderson  Kidd. 
G.  Kirby. 
James  Lytle. 
Frank  Lytle. 
William  Lane. 
A.  B.  Marbury. 
Ben  Marbury. 
W.  L.  Marbury. 
Horatio  Marbury. 
I.  N.  Mercer. 
A.  J.  Mercer. 
W.  R.  Morrow. 
J.  K.  P.  Martin. 
Jasper  Martin. 
Sampson  Martin. 
Lewis  Martin. 


172 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


Thomas  Mulrany. 
A.  L.  Mitchell. 
J.  N.  Mitchell. 
John  Meadows. 

C.  R.  Morford. 

D.  C.  Mathews. 
A.  Perry. 


Joel  Perry. 
John  Perry. 
John  Pace. 
G.  E.  Purvis. 
Aaron  Pepper. 
John  Pepper. 
A.  J.  Paine. 


CAPTAIN  D.  c.  SPURLOCK:. 


T.  M.  Reeves. 
W.  W.  Roberts. 
W.  S.  Ross. 
James  Ross. 
E.  S.  Rowan. 
John  Rut-ledge. 
A.  J.  Rayburn. 


Elisha  Reynolds. 
Charles  Read. 
William  Rhea. 
M.  D.  Smith. 
Alexander  Smith,  sr. 
Alexander  Smith,  jr. 
J.  C.  Smith. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


173 


D.  C.  Spurlock. 
Cicero  Spurlock. 
C.  J.  Spurlock. 
W.  D.  Sinartt. 

E.  M.  Smartt. 

J.  K.  P.  Sinartt. 
J.  C.  Sniartt. 
John  Swann. 
J.  W.  .Swann. 
Martin  Stiles. 
George  Scott. 
Samuel  Stotts. 
Frank  Smith. 
J.  L.  Thompson. 


W.  L.  Thompson. 
H.  S.  Thompson. 
W.  M.  Taylor.    . 
H.  J.  Thaxton. 
Joseph  Thomas. 
Kobert  Vanison. 
Lafayette  .Vandergriff. 
William  Vaughn. 
C.  B.  Wilson. 
J.  B.  Wilson. 
J.  C.  Wilson. 
William  Wallace. 
John  Walker. 
T.  C.  Wheeler. 


KILLED. 


Capt  P.  C,  Spurlock,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut,  E.  C.  Read,  Perryville. 
Lieut.  W.  H.  Wooten,  Perryville. 
Lieut.  Cicero  Spurlock,  Perryville. 
Sergt.  Thomas  North,  in  Cavalry, 

(transferred). 

Corp'l  Philander  Wood,  Perryville. 
Thomas  Bonner,  Murfreesboro. 
Richard  Bybee,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Blackburn,  Atlanta. 
Reese  Bruster,  Perryville. 
Joshua  B.  Carter,  Kennesaw  Mt.,  Ga. 


George  Donnell,  Franklin. 

James  Gibbs,  Murfreesboro. 

Thomas  Greer,  Perryville. 

Wright  S.  Hackett,  Atlanta. 

Horatio  Marbury,  Perryville. 

A.  J.  Mercer,  in  Cavalry,  (transferred). 

J.  K.  P.  Martin,  Murfreesboro. 

John  Meadows,  Franklin. 

Aaron  Pepper,  Franklin. 

W.  T.  Thompson,  Franklin. 

H.  S.  Thompson,  Perryville. 

J.  W.  Bybee,  Murfreesboro. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

Harrison  Biles,  Chattanooga.  G.  Kirby,  Unknown. 

John  Cunningham,  Ga.,  1862.  Louis  Martin,  Sewell  Mountain. 

Romulus  Gwynn,  Grahamville,  S.  C.  D.  C.  Mathews,  Shelbyville,  1864. 
John  Hcrriiuan,  Unknown. 


John  Hennegar,  Unknown. 

William  King,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 


John  Pace,  Unknown. 
John  Pepper,  Unknown. 


WOUNDED. 
J.  C.  Biles,  Perryville,  Atlanta  (2).        W.  R.  Morrow,  Murfreesboro,  Chicka- 


J.  B.  Biles,  Kennesaw  Mountain. 
Mike  Blackburn,  Perryville. 
W.  L.  Brawley,  Murfreesboro. 
A.  F.  Claywell,  Perryville. 
L.  C.  Harp,  Chickamauga. 
\V.  S.  Hill,  Perryville. 
D.  W.  King,  Perryville. 
I.  N.  Mercer,  Atlanta. 


mauga. 

Thomas  Marbury,  Ga. 
C.  R.  Morford,  Perryville. 
Charles  Read,  Perryville. 
Alexander  Smith,  jr.,  Perryville. 
J.  L.  Thompson,  Chickamauga. 
T.  C.  Wheeler,  Perryville. 


174 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


PROMOTED. 
D.  M.  Donnell,  Lieut,  Col.,  1862,  Col.,    C.  G.  Black,  2d  Lieut.,  1863. 


1863. 

W.  H.  Wooten,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 
E.  C.  Read,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 
D.  C.  Spurlock,  Capt ,  1867. 
Thomas  Black,  Med.  Dept.,  1861. 


A.  F.  Claywell,  Adjutant,  1863. 
H.  H.  Faulkner,  Major,  1861. 
C.  R.  Morford,  1st  Lieut.,  1863. 
J.  L.  Thompson,  Capt.,  1863. 
A.  J.  Brown,  Maj.  &  A.  Q.  M.,  1861. 


COMPANY   D. 

OFFICERS. 

P.  H.  Coffee,  Captain.  Wm.  W.-Mooney,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Geo.  Marchbanks,  First  Lieutenant.     J.  G.  Bains,  Third  Lieutenant. 


PRIVATES. 


J.  E.  Anderson. 
John  Blanks. 
Monroe  Blanks. 
Henry  Blanks. 
W.  R.  Bennett. 
S.  H.  Brown. 
W.  J.  Bennington. 
H.  S.  Brabben. 
A.  P.  Bragg. 
D.  W.  Buyars. 
Enoch  Buyars. 
Lafayette  Clark. 
G.  W.  Cunningham. 
Mithael  Cannon. 
Walter  Cope. 
O.  B.  Christian. 
W.  B.  Christian. 
D.  W.  Campbell. 
Gideon  Cruse. 
Hardeman  Cruse. 
Walter  Cruse. 
Stephen  Cruse. 
Matthew  Douglass. 
J.  P.  Douglass. 
James  Davis. 
R.  J.  Evans. 
J.  P.  Evans. 
W.  H.  Edwards. 
M.  L.  Edwards. 
L.  D.  Elkins. 
J.  T.  Fowler. 
James  Farless. 


J.  F.  Gaw. 

J.  W.  Greer. 

W.  T.  Greer. 

M.  V.  Gribble. 

S.  Gribble. 

A.  P.  Gribb!e. 

A.  J.  Gribble. 

S.  C.  Gribble. 

J.  A.  Gribble. 

J.  P.  A.  Hennessee. 

Hamp  Heunessee. 

T.  W.  Hopkins. 

W.  L.  Hopkins.     • 

J.  C.  Hasten. 

J.  J.  Higgiulx>tham. 

Aaron  Higginbotharn. 

Thomas  Hutson. 

A.  J.  Higginbotham. 

J.  J.  Logue. 

L.  E.  Logue. 

J.  K.  Lowry. 

J.  G.  Lambert. 

J.  D.  Lusk. 

Samuel  Lusk. 

T.  F.  Martin. 

William  Martin. 

R.  G.  Martin. 

John  Meadows. 

John  McDaniel. 

J.  T.  Moulder. 

John  Moulder. 

John  Mullican. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


175 


W.  W.  Mullican. 
J.  A.  McWhirter. 
J.  B.  Me  .\fee. 
W.  H.  Macon. 
J.  B.  Myers.' 
W.  T,  McGee. 
J.  L.  McGee. 
Richard  McGregor. 
Job  71  McGregor. 
W.  M.  Moulder. 
Michael  McGeary. 
Richmond  McGregor. 
J.  K.  P.  Nichols. 
Patrick  O'Keith. 
Tim  O'Leary. 
W.  Perry. 
W.  T.  Perry. 
William  Pinkstone. 
W.  C  Quick. 
J.  D.  Quick. 
John  Quick. 
T.  J.  Rodgers. 


W.  H.  Rains. 
James  Rowland. 
B.  M  Rowland. 
G.  W.  Sommers. 
J.  M.  Sommers. 
W.  L.  Smyth. 
Lycurgus  Smith. 
Jerome  Smith. 
John  Tate. 
Samuel  Templeton. 
T.  J.  Templeton. 
John  Templeton. 
Byars  G.  Webb. 
W.  J.  Ware. 
R.  A.  Ware. 
J.  T.  Walling. 
J.  A.  Wheeler. 
W.  H.  White. 
J.  W.  West. 
T.  F.  frost. 
F.  M.  York. 
J.  W.  Wolcott, 


KILLED. 


Capt.  J.  G.  Lambert,  Perryville. 

A.  P.  Bragg,  (transferred  to  Cavalry), 

Ala. 

Lafayette  Clark,  Missionary  Ridge. 
M.  L.  Edwards,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  T.  Greer.  Perryville. 
S.  Grabble,  Murfreesboro. 
A.  P.  Gribble,  Murfreesboro. 
T.  J.  Gribble,  Murfreesboro. 
A.  J.  Gribble,  jr.,  Murfreesboro. 


W.  Perry,  Murfreesboro. 

James  Rowland,  Murfreesboro. 

W.  F.  Smith  Murfreesboro. 

A.  J.  Higginbothain,  Detached,  1864. 

Samuel  Lusk,  Franklin. 

J.  K.  P.  Nichols,  Franklin. 

W.  H.  Rains.  Unknown. 

J.  M.  Sommers,  Perryville. 

J.  A.  Wheeler,  Perryville. 

J.  W.  Wolcott,  Atlanta. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 
J.  F.  Gaw,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861.  Richard  McGregor,  Va.,  1861. 


WOUNDED. 


John  Blanks,  Perryville. 
AValtcr  Cope,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  B.  Christian,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  P.  Douglass,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  C.  Haston,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  J.  Higginbothain,  Murfreesboro. 
Aaron  Higginbotham,  Murfreesboro. 
Thomas  Hutson,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  D.  Lusk,  Murfreesboro  and  Perry- 
ville. 


Thomas  Martin,   Murfreesboro    and 

Chickamauga. 

R.  G.  Martin,  Murfreesboro* 
John  McDaniel,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  A.  McWhirter,  Murfreesboro. 
John  McGregor,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  T.  Perry,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  Pinkstou,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  C.  Quick,  Perryville  and  Atlanta. 
John  Quick,  Murfreesboro. 


176 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


Lycurgus  Smith,  Murfreesboro.  W.  II.  White,  Perryville. 

T.  J.  Templeton,  Murfrcesboro.  J.  F.  West,  Murfreesboro. 

B.  G.  Webb,  Perryville  and  Franklin.  F.  M.  York,  Murfreesboro. 
R.  A.  Ware,  Perryville. 

PROMOTED. 


P.  H.  Coffee,  Major,  1862. 
J.  G.  Lambert,  Capt.,  1862. 
S.  H.  Brown,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 
George  Marchbanks,  Adjutant,  1801. 


J.  P.  A.  Henncssee,  1st  Lieut.,  1863. 
F.  M.  York,  2rt  Lieut.,  1862,  Capt  ,  1868. 
W   H.  White,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 


COMPANY    E. 


OKFICKKS. 


Thomas  B.  Murray,  Captain. 
Alfred  P.  Sinartt,  First  Lieutenant. 
James  Hill,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Thomas  York,  Third  Lieutenant. 
Moss  Mason,  First  Sergeant. 
William  Lowry,  Second  Sergeant. 


James  Green,  Third  Sergeant. 
Robert  Webb,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
Hugh  L.  Moffltt,  First  Corporal. 
H.  J.  Christian,  Second  Corporal. 
S.  W.  Bratcher,  Third  Corporal. 
Duke  Blackwell,  Fourth  Corporal. 


John  Bost. 

J.  R.  Brown. 

J.  H.  Brown. 

Asbury  Brown. 

W.  H.  Brooks. 

Aaron  Bouldin. 

R.  P.  Burks. 
John  Boren. 

Harrel  Byars. 

David  Bonner. 

Lawson  Cantrell. 
Samuel  Cantrell. 
J.  C.  Corder. 
J.  R.  Countiss. 
Peter  Countiss. 
John  Countiss. 
W.  C.  Countiss. 
James  Christian. 
Enoch  Cooksey. 
Gillam  Clark. 
Abe  Douglass. 
Dock  Douglass. 
Joseph  England. 
Clark  Edge. 
Polk  Evans. 
W.  M.  Evans. 


PRIVATES. 


Newt  Fusion. 
Reese  J.  Fuston. 
W.  J.  Fuston. 
Joseph  H.  Goodbar. 
John  Green. 

A.  J.  Gribble. 

B.  P.  Green. 
Elias  Green. 
W.  W.  Gourd. 
E.  H.  Green. 

D.  Holmes. 
J.  H.  Holmes. 
Read  Holmes. 
James  W.  Hill. 
W.  M.  Hensley. 
W.  M.  Jones. 
Isaac  Jones. 

E.  J.  Jones. 
James  Jennings. 
Pleasant  Jennings. 
Dock  Jennings. 
Tillman  Keener. 
Lawsnn  Keif. 
Nelson  Kirby. 
Robert  Kirby. 
James  Kirby. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


177 


Jerry  Killian. 
W.  Lowry. 
Polk  Lowry. 
James  Laurence. 
George  Martin. 
Isaiah  Moffitt. 
William  Mooree. 
John  Martin. 


William  Manning. 
John  Medley. 
Michael  Mauzy. 
William  Mullican. 
W.  C.  Morton. 
W.  T.  Mabry. 
Allen  Mason. 
William  Mason. 


MAJOR   JO.    H.    GOODBAR. 


George^McNeeley. 
James  McGregor. 
Eiley  Nunnelly. 
General  Nunnelly. 
Archie  Xunuelly. 
O.  D.  Neal. 
John  Perser. 
Luke  Perser. 

12 


A.  J.  Paine. 
John  R.  Paine. 
Thomas  Potter. 
E.  W.  Smartt. 
A.  P.  Smartt. 
John  S.  Sanders. 
Carrol  Stepp. 
J.  R.  Skelton. 


178 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


J.  P.  Smartt. 

Rowland  Ware. 

Bryant  Stroud. 
John  Tanner. 

John  R.  Woiuack. 
W.  C.  Womack. 

Isaac  Tramble. 

R.  R.  Womack. 

Stephen  Tate. 
John  Van  Hooser. 

A.  M.  Womack. 
Felix  G.  Womack. 

J.  Van  Hooser. 

John  S.  Womack. 

L.  L.  Van  Hooser. 

John  B.  Womack. 

John  Van  Hooser. 

John  C.  Watson. 

Fate  Van  Hooser. 

W.  R.  Wood. 

Newt  Van  Hooser. 

U.  L.  Wood. 

Elias  Woiuack. 

William  Woods. 

Jesse  Walling. 
Robert  Webb. 

George  Wallace. 
Thomas  York. 

Perry  G.  Webb. 

George  W.  York. 

KILLED. 


Lieut.  James  Green,  Franklin. 
J.  H.  Brown,  Franklin. 
John  Boren,  Perry ville. 
David  Bonner,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  R.  Countiss,  Perryville. 
Lawson  Cantrell,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Christian,  Perryville. 
Abe  Douglass,  Murfreesboro. 
Joseph  England,  Perryville. 
William  Evans,  Atlanta. 
Isaac  Jones,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Kirby,  Murfreesboro. 
William  Lowry,  Lost  Mountain. 


Michael  Mauzy,  Murfreesboro. 
Allen  Mason,  Perryville. 
James  McGregor,  Perryville. 
A.  P.  Smartt,  Perryville. 
Stephen  Tate,  Corinth. 
L.  L.  Vanhooser,  Unknown. 
Elias  Womack,  Perryville. 
Perry  Webb,  Perryville. 
Rowland  Ware,  Perryville. 
John  B.  Womack.  Franklin. 
Thomas  York,  (transferred,)  Perry- 
.  ville. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

Maj.  J.  H.  Goodbar,  Morristown,  1861.  O.  D.  Neal,  Huntersville,  Va. 
Polk  Evans,  Meadow  Bluff.  J.  P.  Smartt,  Unknown. 

Reid  Holmes,  Warm  Springs,  Va.  U.  L.  Wood,  (transferred,)  Home,  1861. 

Moss  Mason,  Prison,  Rock  Island. 


WOUNDED. 


Capt.  J.  J.  Womack,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut.  Jesse  Walling,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut.  W.  C.  Womack,  Missionary 

Ridge. 

Enoch  Cooksey,  Perryville. 
John  Medley,  Perryville. 
Archie  Nunnelly,  Perryville. 
R.  R.  Womack,  Perryville. 
George  W.  York,  Resaca. 
W.  T.  Mabry,  Murfreesboro. 


G.  N.  Clark,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  B.  Womack,  Murfreesboro. 
A.  M.  Mason,  Murfreesboro. 
Luke  Perser,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Perser,  Murfreesboro. 
Isaiah  Moffitt,  Murfreesboro. 
G.  W.  Wallace,  Murfreesboro. 
A.  J.  Van  Hooser,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  S.  Van  Hooser,  Murfreesboro. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


179 


PROMOTED. 


Thomas  B.  Murray,  Lieut.-col.,  1861. 
Joseph  H.  Goodbar,  Major,  1861. 
J.  J.  Womack,  Capt.,  1861. 
John  K.  Paine,  Adjutant,  1862. 
Jesse  Walling,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 


J.  K.  P.  Webb,  2d  Lieut.,  1862,  Capt. 

1863. 

B.  P.  Green,  3d  Lieut.,  1864. 
W.  C.  Womack,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 


COMPANY  F. 

OFFICERS. 

H.  H.  Dillard,  Captajn.  James  McKinley,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

W.  K.  Sadler,  First  Lieutenant.  David  H.  Bullington,  Fifth  Sergeant. 
Holland  Denton,  Second  Lieutenant.    H.  I.  Hughes,  First  Corporal. 

R.  A.  Young,  Third  Lieutenant.  J.  M.  Null,  Second  Corporal. 

M.  S.  Smith,  First  Sergeant.  Joel  Gabbert,  Third  Corporal. 

S.  W.  Brown,  Second  Sergeant.  J.  Y.  Crowell,  Fourth  Corporal. 
B.  F.  Scudders,  Third  Sergeant. 


PRIVATES. 


M.  M.  Anderson. 

F.  M.  Amonet. 
Joseph  Ballard. 

C.  M.  Ballard. 
Samuel  Benson. 
J.  R.  Bullington. 
Leroy  Bullington. 
John  Bullington. 
Josiah  Bullington. 
Branshaw  Boyd. 
Obadiah  Boyd. 

J.  A.  Boyd. 
John  Brown. 
David  Bryant. 
W.  W.  Baldwin. 
William  Braswell. 
W.  N.  Caruthers. 
Crockett  Clark. 

D.  A.  Crowell. 
Walter  E.  Chilton. 
John  Choate. 
Jacob  Choate. 
Meadow  Choate. 
J.  L.  Davis. 

Van  Dillard. 
I.  C.  Eldridge. 

G.  W.  Floyd. 
J.  H.  Fisher. 
W.  L.  Grimsley. 


W.  F.  Grimsley. 
Jack  Griffin. 
Elijah  Garrett. 
Noah  Harris. 
Richard  Hensley. 
William  Hoggard. 
Henry  Harpole. 
William  Hodges. 
J.  M.  Jackson. 
Alexander  Jackson. 
G.  B.  Jaquess. 
P.  H.  Leadbetter. 
Thomas  Laycock. 
I.  C.  Laycock. 
J.  R.  Laycock. 
W.  H.  Maxwell. 
D.  W.  Maxwell. 
T.  R.  Matheney. 
J.  P.  Maberry. 
W.  T.  Moore. 
J.  F.  Moore. 
J.  R.  Murry. 
M.  J.  Nichols. 
John  Nichols. 
Lewis  Ollerson. 
J.  F.  Owen. 
W.  H.  H.  Ortry. 
H.  L.  C.  Pearson. 
D.  G.  Pointer. 


i8o 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


J.  J.  Richardson. 
John  Scarlett. 
B.  L.  Scarlett. 
A.  J.  Sutton. 
W.  H.  Sullins. 
T.  C.  Thompson. 
John  Tolbert. 
J.  B.  Vance. 
P.  M.  Wasson. 
Allen  Winchester. 
William  Wiggleton. 

M.  M.  Anderson,  Perry ville, 
John  Choate,  Murfreesboro. 
Jacob  Choate,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  F.  Grimsley,  Perryville. 
William  Hodges,  Chickamauga. 
Alexander  Jackson,  Perryville. 
J.  C.  Laycock,  Murfreesboro. 
.  James  Murray,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Brown,  Murfreesboro. 
Joseph  Y.  Ballard,  Murfreesboro. 


K.  J.  West. 
J.  M.  West. 

B.  H.  Watson. 
W.  W.  Wallace. 
A.  D.  Young. 

C.  C.  Young. 

K.  K.  McDaniel. 
Rufus  Owen. 
William  Webb. 
Albert  Ballard. 

KILLED. 

J.  R.  Murray,  Perryville. 

J.  F.  Owen,  Jonesboro,  Ga. 

Lieut.  D.  G.  Pointer,  Perryville. 

Capt.  J.  B.  Vance,  Perryville. 

T.  C.  Thompson,  Perryville. 

R.  J.  West,  Atlanta. 

Lieut.  W.  W.  Wallace,  Murfreesboro. 

Rufus  Owen,  Atlanta. 

William  Webb,  Franklin. 

Albert  Ballard,  Murfreesboro. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 


David  H.  Bullington,  Tupelo. 
Bransford  Boyd,  Nashville,  1861. 
T.  R.  Matheney,  Huntersville. 


W.  T.  Moore,  Dublin,  Va. 
John  Tolbert,  Millboro. 


WOUNDED. 

B.  F^  Scudders,  Perryville.  M.  J.  Nichols,  Perryville. 

H.  f.  Hughes,  Perryville  and  Mur-    John  Nichols,  Perryville  and  Mur- 


freesboro. 

Joseph  Ballard,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Bullington,  Perryville. 
Josiah  Bullington,  Perryville. 
John  Brown,  Perryville. 
W.  W.  Baldwin,  Perryville. 
W.  N.  Caruthers,  Perryville. 
J.  H.  Fisher,  Cheat  Mountain. 

H.  H.  Dillard,  Major,  1862. 
John  B.  Vance,  Capt.,  1862. 
D.  G.  Pointer,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 
W.  W.  Baldwin,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 


freesboro. 

Lewis  Ollerson,  Perryville. 
W.  H.  H.  Ortry,  Atlanta. 
H.  L.  C.  Pearsons,  Perryville. 
J.  J.  Richardson,  Perryville. 
P.  M.  Wasson,  Murfreesboro. 
William  Wiggleton,  Murfreesboro. 
I.  M.  West,  Atlanta. 
PROMOTED. 

W.  W.  Wallace,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 
F.  M.  Amonett,  Capt.,  1863. 
M.  J.  Nichols,  3d  Lieut,,  1863. 
J.  F.  Owen,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 


COMPANY  G. 

OXFICERS. 

P.  C.  Shields,  Captain.  W.  L.  Woods,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  T.  Fisher,  First  Lieutenant.  James  R.  Fisher,  Third  Lieutenant 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


181 


PRIVATES. 

Jasper  Adcock. 

G.  W.  Gilbert. 

H.  P.  Adcock. 

L.  W.  Gilbert. 

William  Allen. 

William  Gleeson. 

A.  J.  Allen. 

William  Goodson. 

Benjamin  Atnip. 

E.  M.  Greenfield. 

John  Atnip. 

James  Helton. 

Alfred  Bain. 

Lawson  Helton. 

Peter  Bain. 

J.  L.  Hudson. 

Isaiah  Bain. 

Jesse  Hudson. 

John  Bain. 

Thomas  Hodge. 

Peter  Bain. 

Moses  Hutchins. 

Henry  Bain. 

Ben  Hutchins. 

C.  Bain. 

C.  M.  Jordan. 

J.  L.  Britton. 

Lawson  Knowles. 

M.  Blount. 

Robert  Love. 

W.  M.  Clenny. 

Levi  Lassater. 

Joseph  Cantrell. 

Isaiah  Lassater. 

C.  W.  Cantrell. 

Monroe  Moore. 

William  L.  Cantrell. 

Ransom  Moore. 

Meredith  Carter. 

Dimmon  Moore. 

Darius  Clark. 

Lawson  Moore. 

Phineas  Clark. 

Wallace  McPeak. 

Jefferson  Clark. 

John  MeMaiius. 

H.  B.  Cope. 

John  Meggerson. 

William  A.  Cotton. 

O.  D.  McGown. 

Ben  Capshaw. 

James  Mullins. 

Zil  Cruse. 

James  North. 

T.  A.  Cotton. 

A.  Norris. 

T.'A.  C.  Denton. 

Thomas  Pollard. 

John  Denton. 

F.  M.  Pettit. 

D.  L.  Dunham." 

Thomas  Pettit. 

L.  R.  Dunham. 

Albert  Pickering. 

P.  C.  Duncan. 

Jasper  Roberts. 

John  Donnell. 

James  Roberts, 

R.  N.  Earles. 

G.  W.  Roberts. 

Gabriel  Elkins. 

William  Roberts. 

John  Fisher. 

James  Roberts,  jr. 

L.  B.  Fisher. 

Dock  Roberta. 

J.  P.  Fisher. 

Joseph  Ray. 

Peter  Franks. 

Casson  Robinson. 

A.  Fisk. 

C.  G.  Rankhorn. 

W.  J.  Farris. 

H.  L.  P.  Sanders. 

Lawson  Fisher. 

L.  H.  Stockton. 

M.  L.  Fisher. 

Wiley  Sanders. 

L.  B.  Fisher. 

Lawson  Smith. 

P.  B.  Franks. 

J.  R.  Swindle. 

R.  Grissom. 

J.  J.  Stanley.             • 

Grundy  Gibbs. 

C.  G.  Stacy. 

182 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


Nathan  Troglin. 
Lee  Troglin. 
Adolphus  Wiggins. 
J.  W.  Wiggins. 
Tilmon  Wiggins. 
F.  M.  Wright. 
S.  L.  Walker. 
O.  D.  Walker. 


Alexander  Walker. 
Seth  F.  Wright. 
D.  W.  Warst. 
Austin  Webb. 
James  Wright. 
Deskin  Wright. 
Andrew  J.  Youngblood. 


KILLED. 


Isaiah  Bain,  Perry ville. 
C.  Bain,  Perry  ville. 
J.  L.  Britton,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  S.  Cantrell,  Perryville. 
Darius  Clark,  Perryville. 
H.  B.  Cope,  Perryville. 
P.  C.  Duncan,  Perryville. 
Lawson  Fisher,  Perryville. 
Grundy  Gibbs,  Atlanta. 
J.  L.  Hutson,  Perryville. 
Monroe  Moore,  Perryville. 
Ransom  Moore,  Murfreesboro. 
Jasper  Roberts,  Perryville. 

DIED  IN 

Lieut.  W.  M.  Clenny,  Ga.,  1861. 
Peter  Atnip,  Va. 
C.  W.  Cantrell,  Ga. 
David  L.  Dunham,  Prison. 
E.  M.  Greenfield,  in  Camp. 
James  Hilton,  Prison. 
James  Mullin,  Prison. 


Dock  Roberts,  Perryville. 
J.  W.  Wiggins,  Perryville. 
Thomas  Hodges,  Murfreesboro. 
F.  M.  Wright,  Perryville. 
Thomas  Pollard,  Atlanta. 
S.  L.  Walker,  Perryville. 
B.  L.  Jordan,  Franklin. 
Zil  Cruse,  Murfreesboro. 
Lee  Troglin,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut.  F.  M.  Pettit,  Franklin. 
James  N.  Cantrell,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Fisher,  Murfreesboro. 

SERVICE. 

L.  H.  Stockton,  Perryville. 

John  Donnell,  Mississippi. 

Dimmon  Moore,  Murfreesboro. 

Wallace  McPeark,  Huntersville,  1861.- 

D.  W.  Marsh,  Camp. 

J.  J.  Allen,  Ky. 

William  Gleeson,  Vicksburg,  Miss. 


William  A.  Cotton,  Perryville. 
P.  B.  Franks,  Murfreesboro. 
William  Roberts,  Corinth. 
Lawson  Knowles,  Perryville. 
Adolphus  Wiggins,  Perryville. 


WOUNDED. 

William  Gleeson,  Perryville. 
C.   G.   Rankhorn,   Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain. 
Andy  Youngblood,  Murfreesboro. 


PROMOTED. 


A.  T.  Fisher,  Capt.,  1862. 
W.  L.  Woods,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 
A.  Fisk,  2d  Lieut,  1862,  Capt.,  1868. 
W.  M.  Clenny,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 


F.  M.  Pettit,  2d  Lieut,,  1863. 
P.  B.  Franks,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 
Lawson  Smith,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


1 8,3 


COMPANY  H. 


OFFICERS. 


L.  H.  Meadows,  Captain. 
H.  L.  Siiums,  First  Lieutenant. 
W.  G.  Etter,  Second  Lieutenant. 
B.  J.  Solomon,  Third  Lieutenant. 
James  M.  Parks,  First  Sergeant. 
K.  B.  Hayes,  Second  Sergeant. 


W.  P.  Ray,  Third  Sergeant. 
K.  B.  Bess,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
Carrol  Fultz,  First  Corporal. 
Jerome  Safley,  Second  Corporal. 
F.  M.  Perry,  Third  Corporal. 
William  G.  Reese,  Fourth  Corporal. 


PRIVATES. 


Adrian  Anglin. 
Tip  Anglin. 
John  Akeman. 
George  Akeman. 
Samuel  B.  Baker. 

F.  M.  Barker. 
J.  S.  Brown. 
John  Brown. 
John  H.  Brown. 

G.  T^Brown. 
W.  S.  Bullen. 
Absalom  Brown. 
Russell  Brown. 
Jackson  Brown. 
John  Bess. 
Wiley  Bess. 
Russell  Bess. 
Alius  Bess. 
Mitchell  Campbell. 
Samuel  Cartwright. 
John  Countiss. 
John  Christian. 

W.  B.  Christian. 
C.  W.  Clendennon. 
J.  N.  Clendennon. 
Jackson  Clendennon. 
Isaac  Cunningham. 
Jacob  Curtis. 
Wiley  Curtis. 
Martin  Curtis. 
T.  Coldwell. 
W.  Coldwell. 
Leonard  Daniel. 
T.  J.  Davis. 
John  Davis. 
James  Dodson. 
P.  A.  Earles. 


R.  R.  Etter. 
George  H.  Etter. 
William  Etter. 
John  Etter. 
J.  P.  Etter. 
William  Furren. 
Joseph  Furren. 
David  Fultz. 
M.  P.  Hayes. 
H.  L.  Hayes. 
Obadiah  Hennessee. 
Mart  Hennessee. 
J.  C.  Hughes. 
Aaron  Hughes. 
William  Hughes. 
B.  J.  Hill,  jr. 
William  Hennessee. 
Rad  Hill. 
James  Johnson. 
James  Jones. 
Isaac  R.  Jones. 
A.  J.  Jordan. 
Houston  Lynn. 
James  Lockhart. 
Joseph  Lockhart. 
James  McDaniel. 
A.  McDaniel. 
A.  J.  Moore. 
William  Mitchell. 
J.  A.  Miller. 
J.  H.  Mooney. 
John  Murphy. 
W.  R.  Martin. 
Alpha  Martin. 
G.  C.  McCraw. 
M.  E.  C.  Mobley. 
F.  M.  Moffitt. 


1 84 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


Sam  McCorkle,  sr.,  (Fiddler.) 
Samuel  McCorkle,  jr. 
Stephen  McCorkle. 
David  Miller. 
William  Overturf. 
Alexander  Parsley. 
Henry  Powell. 


Edward  Pursley. 
Joseph  Pace. 
H.  Pennington. 
Elijah  Poe. 
G.  W.  Parks. 
Wills  Roberts. 
Marshal  Roljerts. 


CAPTAIN    JAMES     M.    PARKS. 


Isaac  Roberts. 
Levi  Rodgers. 
James  Rowan. 
W.  N.  Russell. 
W.  H.  Russell. 
C.  M.  Rutledge. 
R.  M.  Safley. 


Jefferson  Savage. 
Jesse  Savage. 
James  Slaughter. 
B.  J.  Slaughter. 
Allen  Smith. 
J.  N.  Smith. 
B.  F.  Smith. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


I 85 


Andy  Smith. 
Jackson  Smith. 

J.  C.  Waldo. 
John  Willis. 

John  Scott. 

William  Willis. 

Levi  Sides. 

Harmon  Willis. 

William  Tallent. 

A  J.  Woodlee. 

Henry  Turner. 

W.  C.  Woodlee. 

Simins  Vickers. 

Isaac  Walker. 

J.  J.  Vickers. 

J.  C.  Watson. 

A.  D.  Ware. 

KILLED. 


Capt.  J.  M.  Parks,  Chickamauga. 
Leiut    John  Akeman,  Altanta,  four 

wounds. 

Serg't  R.  B.  Hayes,  Perryville. 
Serg't  W.  P.  Ray,  Perryville. 
Corp'I  Jerome  Safley,  Perryville. 
.Samuel  M.  Baker,  (transferred;)  in 

Cavalry. 

John  H.  Brown,  Fraukiin. 
John  Countiss,  Perryville. 
Isaac  Cunningham,  Perryville. 
Martin  Curtis,  Perryville. 
William  Etter,  Atlanta. 

DIED  IN 

Russell  Bess,  Camp  Trousdale,  1861. 
N.  J.  Hill,  jr.,  Home,  1861. 
James  Johnson,  Pocotaligo,  S.  C. 
William  Mitchell,  Huntersville,  Va. 
J.  A.  Miller,  Huntersville. 
G.  C.  McCraw,  Camp  Trousdale. 
Isaac  Roberts,  Warm  Springs,  Ya. 


B.  J.  Solomon,  transferred  to  Cavalry. 
John  Etter,  Murfreesboro. 
ObadiahHennessee,  Perryville. 
Martin  Hennessee,  Perryville. 
Isaac  R.  Jones,  Murfreesboro. 
Alpha  Martin,  Cheat  Mountain. 
Edward  Pursley,  Murfreesboro. 
Henry  Pennington,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  N.  Smith,  Perryville. 
B.  F.  Smith,  Murfreesboro. 
B.  J.  Slaughter,  in  Cavalry,  (trans- 
ferred). 

SERVICE. 

James  Rowan,  Home. 

Jefferson  Savage,  Shelbyville,  1863. 

Jesse  Savage,  Atlanta,  1863. 

James  Slaughter,  Atlanta. 

Jackson  Smith,  Home. 

Isaac  Walker,  Home,  1861. 


WOUNDED. 


Capt.  J.  M.  Parks,  Murfreesboro. 
G.  T.  Brown,  Pocotaligo. 
W.  G.  Etter,  Perryville. 
H.  L  Hayes,  Perryville. 
Carrol  Fultz,  Perryville. 
R.  R.  Etter,  Perryville. 
G.  W.  Parks,  Perryville. 
J.  S.  Brown,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  S.  Bullen,  Murfreesboro. 
'i  .  J.  Davis,  Murfreesboro. 
j.  C.  Hughes,  Murfreesboro. 
->:.  P.  Hayes,  Murfreesboro. 


James  Jones,  Murfreesboro. 

A.  J.  Jordan,  Murfreesboro. 

W.  N.  Russell,  Murfreesboro. 

W.  G.  Etter,  Chickamauga. 

C.  M.  Rutledge,  Chickamauga. 

J.  C.  Watson,  Chickamauga. 

R.  R.  Bess,  Atlanta. 

J.  P.  Etter,  Atlanta. 

R.  M.  Safley,  Atlanta. 

Rad  Hill,  (transferred  to  Fifth  Tenn.) 

G.  H.  Etter,  in  Cavalry,  (transferred). 

J.  H.  Mooney,  in  Cavalry  (transf  red). 


PROMOTED. 

J.  M.  Parks,  Capt.,  1862.  H.  L.  Hayes,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 

W.  G.  Etter,  1st  Lieut.,  1862,  Capt.,  1863.  John  Akeman,  3d  Lieut.,  1862.' 


1 86 


THE  SIXTEENTH   REGIMENT 


COMPANY  I. 

OFFICERS. 

Harmon  York,  Captain.  James  K.  Hillis,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

Green  B.  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant.     John  Grissom,  Fifth  Sergeant. 
Mortimer  15.  Wood,  Second  Lieutenant.  Samuel  Fleming,  First  Corporal. 


A.  T.  Seitz,  Third  Lieutenant. 
Philip  Shockley,  First  Sergeant. 
G.  M.  Cummings,  Second  Sergeant. 
Ben  Kandals,  Third  Sergeant. 


William  Jones,  Second  Corporal. 
James  Worthing,  Third  Corporal. 
William  B.  Wood,  Fourth  Corporal. 


PRIVATES. 


A.  J.  Agent. 

John  Baker. 

Samuel  Baker. 

Peter  Baker. 

Silas  Y.  Ballard. 

Cyrus  Billingsley. 

John  Boyd. 

William  Boyd. 

R.  C.  Boyd. 

C.  H.  Clark. 

William  Creeley. 

Denny  Cummings. 

Joseph  Cummings. 

Joseph  Denny  Cummings. 

John  L.  Cummings. 

George  W.  Drake. 

J.  K.  P.  Douglas. 

J.  B.  Foster. 

John  Graham. 

G.  W.  Groves. 

James  Green. 

N.  B.  Hambrick. 

Pleas  Harrison. 

W.  B.  Haston. 

Samuel  Haston. 

John  Hankins. 

Jacob  Hayes. 

T.  A.  Head. 

W.  H.  Head. 

I.  T.  Hillis. 

W.  R.  Hillis. 

Isham  Hollansworth. 

Isaac  Howard. 

Levi  Johnson. 

A   T.  Jones. 

James  Martin. 

Stephen  Martin. 


Isham  Martin. 
Neil  McClure. 
W.  C.  McBride. 
G.  W.  McBride. 
Mathew  McBride. 
George  W.  Miller. 
Martin  Mitchell. 
Mark  Mitchell. 
James  Mitchell. 
William  Mitchell. 
S.  D.  Mitchell. 
B.  F.  Morgan. 
William  Morgan. 
James  Moore. 

D.  C.  Moore. 
Miles  Moore. 
John  A.  Myers. 
Nero  Owens. 
Joseph  Pace. 
W.  R.  Paine. 
H.  C.  Paine. 
Samuel  Parker. 
Bryson  Parsley. 
William  T.  Passons. 

E.  T.  Passous. 
James  Passons. 
A.  J.  Passons. 
George  W.  Miller. 
John  Patton. 
Simon  Philips. 
Samuel  Porter. 
Solomon  Porter. 
T.  A.  Priest. 
Marion  Priest. 
Larkin  Priest. 

D.  C.  Randals. 
Henderson  Rhodes. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


187 


JeffC.  Rodgers. 
W.  W.  Rawlings. 
Thomas  Rawlings. 
Jackson  Rolls. 
John  Smaller.     ' 
W.  J.  Smith. 
G.  W.  Sparkman. 
Nelson  Sparkman. 
Elvin  Sparkraan. 
Peter  Shockley. 
Hickman  Shockley. 
John  J.  Steakley. 
James  C.  Steakley. 
A.  C.  Stype. 
Joseph  Stype. 
George  W.  Stype. 
F.  M.  Stype.  " 


KILLED. 


Marion  Thomasson. 
A.  F.  Thompson 
W.  J.  Underwood. 
John  Underwood. 
Joseph  Walker. 
Joshua  Worley. 
Rufus  Ward. 
D.  C.  Ward. 
Samuel  Worthington. 
W.  T.  Worthington. 
Silas  R.  York. 
A.  C.  York. 
John  E.  York. 
William  Wilson. 
W.  T.  Thurman. 
W.  R.  Wood. 
U.  L.  Wood. 


Serg't  John  Grissom,  Corinth. 

Corp'l  William  Jones,  Perryville. 

Corp'l  William  B.  Wood,  Perryville. 

A.  J.  Agent,  Atlanta. 

Samuel  Baker,  Lost  Mountain. 

S.  Y.  Ballard,  Detached. 

William  Creeley,  Corinth. 

N.  B.  Hambrick,  Franklin. 

Ishaia  Hollinsworth,  Murfreesboro. 

Levi  Johnson,  Perryville. 

James  Moore,  Perryville. 

D.  C.  Moore,  Murfreesboro. 

H.  C.  Paine,  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga. 

Marion  Priest,  Murfreesboro. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 


Henderson  Rhodes,  Murfreesboro. 
Thomas  Rawlins,  Murfreesboro. 
Samuel  Parker,  Perryville. 
G.  W.  Sparkman,  Perryville. 
Peter  Shockley,  Perryville. 
Wiley  B.  Haston,  Pejryville. 
John  J.  Steakley,  Perryville. 
James  C.  Steakley,  Perryville. 
Frank  M.  Stype,  in  Cavalry,  (trans- 
ferred.) 

John  E.  York,  Perryville. 
Simon  Philips,  Perryville. 
Philip  Shockley,  Transferred. 


W.  J.  Smith,  Bath  Alum  Springs. 
Marion  Thomasson,  Tullahoma. 
Joshua  Worley,  Atlanta. 
William  Wilson,  Nashville. 
U.  L.  Wood,  Home,  (discharged.) 


G.  W.  Drake,  Huntersville. 
J.  B.  Foster,  White  Sulphur  Springs. 
Pleas  Harrison,  Bath  Alum  Springs. 
John  Hankins,  Bath  Alum  Springs. 
W.  R.  Hillis,  Camp  Trousdale. 
Isaac  Howard,  Corinth. 

WOUNDED. 

Sol  Porter,  Murfreesboro.  James  Passons,  Resaca. 

Lieut.  S.  D.  Mitchell,  Perryville.  W.  T.  Worthington,  Murfreesboro. 

John  Smaller,  Perryville.  Samuel  Worthington,  Murfreesboro. 

Cyrus  Billiugsley,  Perryville.  S.  R.  York,  Murfreesboro. 

Lieut.  Denny  Cummings,  Perryville. 

PROMOTKD. 

John  Boyd,  3d  Lieut.,  1861.  S.  D.  Mitchell,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 

Ben  Randals,  Capt.,  1862,  Maj.,  1865.  Denny  Cummings,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 
James  Worthington,  1st  Lieut.,  1862. 


1 88 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  K. 


OFFICERS. 


Daniel  T.  Brown,  Captain. 

S.  B.  McMillan,  First  Lieutenant. 

John  Austin. 
T.  J.  Bradford. 
•  James  Brown. 

John  Basheers. 
Simeon  Baker. 
R.  D.  Baker. 
R.  L.  Bronson. 
J.  I).  Bozarth. 
Robert  Burnett. 
Hugh  Carriek. 
Samuel  Carriek. 
Dock  Carr. 
G.  W.  Collins. 
James  Call  ins. 

C.  C.  Cash. 
John  Castille. 
S.  W.  Caijtrell. 
Logan  Cantrell. 
Marshall  Cope. 
El  bridge  Cope. 
Tip  Cope. 
James  Cope. 
Andrew  Cope. 
T.  R.  Cooper. 
Jimmy  Cottair. 
James  Clark. 
Nick  Cook. 
John  Downey. 
Vance  Davis. 
W.  B.  Davis. 

D.  W.  Dinges. 
W.  L.  Dibrell. 
Perry  Epps. 
Henry  Enimett. 
William  England. 
Jubal  Early. 
Samuel  Eastland. 
Silas  Farley. 
Thomas  Farley. 
Thomas  Farmer. 
Simon  Frazier. 
R.  D.  Fancher. 


James  RevLs,  Second  Lieutenant. 
W.  D.  Turlington,  Third  Lieutenant. 


PRIVATES. 


J.  K.  P.  Fancher. 
J.  E.  Ford. 
Hosea  Gist. 
Jesse  Gross. 
H.  L.  Gracy. 
Gardner  Green. 
Alexander  Glenn. 
P.  L.  Hensley. 
Trent  Hampton. 
John  Hudgins. 
J.  L.  Heard. 
E.  M.  Irving. 
A.  T.  D.  Irving. 
Henry  Jones. 
Henry  James. 
W.  R.  Jett. 
George  Johnson. 
Thomas  Knowles. 
Jasper  Knowles. 
William  Knowles. 
John  Kirbv. 
Alexander  Kirby. 
Zachariah  Lay. 
Benjamin  Lack. 
Thomas  Lisk. 
John  Lowry. 
William  Lowry. 
William  Lafferty. 
J.  W.  McConnell. 
A.  D.  McKinzie. 
Daniel  Martin. 
George  Martin. 
W.  B.  McManus. 
Frank  Marchbanks. 
Joseph  Mitchell. 
G.  W.  Nelson. 
Durgan  Nash. 
Alexander  Oakes. 
Bryson  Parsley. 
Thomas  Purtle. 
Elijah  Quillen. 
James  Revis. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


189 


William  M.  Revis. 
J.  E.  Rotan. 
Alexander  Rawlston. 
J.  E.  Shockley. 
T.  H.  K.  Shockley. 
Samuel  Scott. 
Robert  Snodgrass. 
Samuel  Snodgrass. 
Andrew  Saviors. 
W.  G.  Simms. 
James  Smith. 
George  Shanks. 
Monroe  Stacy. 
Thomas  Taylor. 
Hiram  Taylor. 
A.  J.  Turlington. 
John  Turlington. 

James  Brown,  Greensboro,  N. 
Simeon  Baker,  Perryville. 
Hugh  Carrick,  Chickamauga. 
James  Carlin,  Murfreesboro. 
Marshall  Cope,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Clark,  Perryville. 
J.  E.  Ford,  Perry  ville. 
Daniel  Martin,  Perryville. 
F.  Marchbanks,  in   Cavalry, 
ferred. 


T.  J.  Templeton. 
Green  Templeton. 
Pleas  Templeton. 
Sylvester  Humphrey. 
Alexander  Vass. 
George  Worley. 
Joshua  Worley. 
John  Webb. 
Lawson  Webb. 
William  Wilhoit. 
James  Wilhoit. 
Stephen  Williams. 
John  Warren. 
Joseph  Wilson. 
J.  H.  Whitley. 
J.  T.  Walker. 


KILLED. 


C.  Alexander  Oaks,  Perryville. 

T.  H.  K.  Shockley,  Detached. 

Robert  Snodgrass,  Ga. 

Andrew  Saylors,  New  Hope  Church. 

Pleas  Templeton,  Franklin. 

George  Worley,  Murfreesboro. 

Joshua  Worley,  Murfreesboro. 

William  Wilhoit,  Franklin, 
(trans-    Stephen  Williams,  Ky. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 


John  Bashurs,  Prison. 
Logan  Cantrell,  Huntersville. 
Elbridge  Cope,  Shelbyville. 
Vance  Davis,  Greenbrier,  Va. 
Jubal  Early,  Prison. 
Silas  Farley,  Chattanooga. 
Thomas  Knowles,  Huntersville,  Va. 


John  Kirby,  Ga. 

Zack  Lay,  Unknown. 

George  Martin,  Tullahoma,  Tenn. 

Thomas  Purtle,  Lewisburg,  Va. 

William  M.  Revis,  Unknown. 

George  Shanks,  Tullahoma. 

Sylvester  Humphreys,  Home. 


WOUNDED. 

William   Lowry,   Murfreesboro  and    Jasper  Knowles,  Perryville. 

Atlanta.  William  Laferty,  Dallas,  Ga. 

John  Castile,  Murfreesboro.  James  Revis,  Murfreesboro. 

H.  L.  Gracy,  Perryville.  T.  J.  Templeton,  Murfreesboro. 

Gardner  Green,  Chickamauga.  James  Wilhoit,  Murfreesboro. 
E.  M.  Irving,  Va. 

PROMOTED. 

Daniel  T.  Brown,  Major,  1862,  Lieut.-    J.  Edward  Rotan,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 

col.,  1863.  William  Lowry,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 

W.  T.  Turlington,  Capt.,  1862.  W.  G.  Simms,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 


190 


THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 


RECAPITULATION. 

Showing  the  number  of  men  enlisted  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee 
Volunteers,  and  the  total  casualties  from  1861  to  1865,  by  companies. 


COMMAND. 

Number 
Enlisted. 

Number 
Killed. 

Number 
Wounded,  j 

Number  Died 
of  Disease. 

£ 

"3 

11 

•H 

REMARKS. 

Field  and  Staff.  

3 

3 
23 
2 
16 
26 
18 
18 
8 
21 
9 
10 

154* 

1 
14 
20 
11 
2 
7 
5 
14 
14 
11 
14 

113 

4 
64 
31 
49 
46 
49 
41 
47 
58 
46 
42 

479 

Not  including  conscripts. 

• 

Company  A  

147 
143 
143 
110 
125 
92 
115 
129 
120 
120 

1247 

27 
9 
22 
18 
24 
21 
25 
23 
26 
18 

213 

Company  B   

Company  C  

Company  D  

Company  E  

Company  F  

Company  G  

Company  II  

Company  I  

Company  K  

Total  

*  This  report  includes  only  the  severely  wounded. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  191 


SKETCHES 

OTHER  TENNESSEE  REGIMENTS. 

•  o-^-o  • 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   EIGHTH    REGIMENT   OF   TENNESSEE 
VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  composed  of  volunteer  compa- 
nies from  the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Moore,  Marshall, 
Overton,  Jackson,  and  Smith,  of  which  Lincoln  county 
furnished  four  companies,  Marshall  county  one,  Jack- 
son county  two,  Overton  county  two,  Smith  county 
one,  and  contained  the  following  number  of  men  re- 
spectively: 

1.  Captain  McKinney's  company,  100  men. 

2.  Captain  Higgins's  company,  78  men. 

3.  Captain  Bryant's  company,  98  men. 

4.  Captain  Moore's  company,  104  men. 

5.  Captain  Hall's  company,  78  men. 

6.  Captain  Gore's  company,  97  men. 

7.  Captain  Armstrong's  company,  80  men. 

8.  Captain  Buford's  company,  62  men. 

9.  Captain  Myers's  company,  89  men. 

10.  Captain  McHenry's  company,  91  men. 


192  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

The  companies  were  organized  into  a  regiment  at 
Camp  Trousdale,  in  Sumner  county,  Tennessee,  May 
29,  1861,  and  officered  as  follows: 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

ALBERT  S.  FULTON,  Colonel; 

WILLIAM  L.  MOORE,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

W.  B.  BOTTS,  Major; 

C.  C.  McKiNNEY,  Adjutant; 

L.  W,  OGLESBY,  Quartermaster; 

ALBERT  EWING,  Commissary; 

Dr.  J.  W.  GRAY,  Surgeon; 

Dr.  GRANVILLE  B.  LESTER,  Assistant  Surgeon; 

Rev.  DAVID  TUCKER,  Chaplain. 

The  companies  were  officered  as  follows: 

1.   CAPTAIN  McKINNET'S  COMPACT. 
[Lincoln  County.) 

Rane  R.  McKinney Captain. 

N.  M.  Bearden First  Lieutenant. 

T.  W.  Raney Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  M.  Downing Third  Lieutenant. 

2.  CAPTAIN  HIGGINSTS  COM  PANT. 

(Lincoln  County.) 

George  W.  Higgins Captain. 

Christopher  Griswell First  Lieutenant. 

E.  S.  N.  Bobo Second  Lieutenant. 

David  Sullivan Third  Lieutenant. 

3.  CAPTAIN  BRTANT'S  COMPANY. 

(Marshall  County.) 

James  L.  Bryant Captain. 

James  P.  Holland First  Lieutenant. 

T.  F.  Brooks    Second  Lieutenant. 

B.  B.  Bowers Third  Lieutenant. 

T.  E.  Russell First  Sergeant. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  193 

4.  CAPTAIN  MOORE'S  COMPANT. 

(Lincoln,  now  Moore,  County.) 

William  Lawson  Moore Captain. 

William  J.  Thrash First  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  H.  Freeman Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  L.  Shoftner Third  Lieutenant. 

5.  CAPTAIN  HALL'S  COMPANT. 

(Lincoln  County.) 

A.  M.  Hall Captain. 

C.  C.  McKinney First  Lieutenant. 

Theophilus  W.  Bledsoe Second  Lieutenant. 

C.  N.  Allen Third  Lieutenant. 

6.  CAPTAIN  GORE'S  COMPANT. 

(Jackson  County.) 

William  Gore Captain. 

A.  B.  Botts First  Lieutenant. 

James  Eaton Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  W.  W.  Brooks Third  Lieutenant. 

7.   CAPTAIN  ARMSTRONG'S  COMPANT. 

(Jackson  County.) 

L.  T.  Armstrong Captain. 

(We  were  unable  to  procure  the  names  of  the  other  officers  of  this  company.) 

8.   CAPTAIN  BUFORD^S  COMPANT. 
(Smith  County.) 

William  J.  Buford Captain. 

(We- were  unable  to  procure  the  names  of  the  other  officers  of  this  company.) 

9.  CAPTAIN  MTERS'S  COMPANT. 

(Overton  County.) 
Calvin  E.  Myers Captain. 

Columbus  Marchbanks First  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Windle Second  Liutenant. 

W.  C.  Hickey Third  Lieutenant. 

10.   CAPTAIN  McHENRTTS  COMPANT. 

(Overton  County.) 
Tim  S.  McHenry Captain. 

Joseph  Wright First  Lieutenant. 

13 


194  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

Andrew  Dale Second  Lieutenant. 

Robert  Parker  „ Third  Lieutenant. 

Captain  William  L.  Moore  having  been  elected  lieu- 
tenant-colonel of  the  regiment,  William  J.  Thrash  was 
made  captain  of  Moore's  company,  and  William  Bon- 
ner  was  elected  first  lieutenant. 

The  Eighth  Tennessee  remained  at  Camp  Trousdale 
in  camp  of  instruction  under  General  Zollicoffer  until 
July,  when  it  was  sent,  with  other  Tennessee  regi- 
ments, to  Haynesville,  East  Tennessee,  from  which 
point  the  regiment  was  placed  in  a  brigade  with  the 
Sixteenth  and  assigned  to  Loring's  division  of  Lee's 
army.  This  brigade  was  commanded  by  Brigadier- 
general  Daniel  S.  Donelson,  and  the  Eighth  and  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  Regiments  remained  in  this  brigade 
without  change  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  of  Tennessee  Volunteers  was 
composed  of  hardy,  able-bodied  men,  and  participated 
in  the  memorable  campaign  of  Western  Virginia  under 
Lee.  At  the  battle  of  Cheat  Mountain  this  regiment 
bore  a  prominent  part.  On  the  night  previous  to  this 
engagement  this  regiment  was  in  line  of  battle  within 
a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  encampment, 
having  successfully  gained  the  rear  of  the  position. 
In  the  affair  the  evening  before,  Captain  Bryant's  com- 
pany was  a  part  of  the  front  guard  that  secured  the 
capture  of  the  enemy's  picket  line,  by  which  Donel- 
son's  brigade  was  enabled  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  Fed- 
eral stronghold  on  the  Huttonville  pike.  In  all  the 
campaigns  of  Western  Virginia  this  regiment  bore  a 
prominent  part,  and  for  endurance  and  daring  it  proved 
itself  the  equal  of  any  regiment  in  the  service. 

Donelson's  brigade  was  ordered  with  Lee  to  the  coast 
of  South  Carolina  in  December,  1861.  The  Eighth  and 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  195 

Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiments  thus  accompanied  Gen- 
eral Lee  to  his  new  field  of  labors.  At  the  battle  of 
Coosaw  River  or  Port  Royal  Ferry,  January  2,  1862, 
the  gallant  old  Eighth  performed  welt  its  part.  In  this 
battle  the  regiment  lost  its  first  men  in  action.  Having 
been  placed  within  range  of  the  Federal  gunboats,  the 
regiment  suffered,  principally  from  the  shells  from  the 
enemy's  heavy  guns. 

After  the  battle  of  Coosaw  River,  matters  remained 
quiet  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  winter  and  the  early  spring  months. 
After  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  Eighth  Tennessee  was 
sent  to  Corinth  to  the  support  of  General  Beauregard, 
who  was  at  that  time  threatened  with  an  overwhelm- 
ing force  of  the  enemy,  by  which  the  whole  Mississippi 
Valley  was  endangered,  and  the  Confederacy  was 
about  to  be  cut  in  twain.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  reg- 
iment at  Corinth  in  April,  1862^  the  men  were  all  in 
good  health  and  eager  for  active  service.  How  well 
and  to  what  extent  their  wishes  were  gratified  the  se- 
quel will  show. 

The  men  of  this  regiment  had  enlisted  for  twelve 
months,  and  their  period  of  enlistment  was  about  to 
expire.  They  expected  to  be  discharged  during  the 
following  May,  and  wanted  to  participate  in  at  least 
one  big  battle  before  they  went  home.  They  knew 
that  they  were  to  be  held  to  the  close  of  the  war  by 
virtue  of  the  conscript  act  which  had  recently  passed 
the  Confederate  Congress;  yet  many  thought  they 
would  have  some  privileges  in  the  matter,  and  were 
discussing  the  branch  of  service  they  would  enter  at 
the  expiration  of  their  period  of  enlistment.  At  all 
events,  they  expected  to  get  a  chance  to  go  home. 

While  the  boys  of  the  regiment  were  revolving  these 


196  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

things  in  their  minds,  the  mighty  army  of  the  advanc- 
ing foe  was  steadily  approaching  nearer  and  nearer, 
and  securing  every  step  of  its  advance  by  the  strong- 
est fortifications.  A  regular  siege  was  now  in  prog- 
ress, and  under  the  very  guns  of  an  advancing  foe  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  reorganize  under  instructions 
from  the  War  Department.  The  commissioned  officers 
were  allowed  to  resign  and  go  home,  if  they  chose  to 
do  so,  and  the  only  privilege  left  the  private  soldiers 
was  to  submit  to  what  many  considered  to  be  an  out- 
rage upon  their  liberties,  while  others  looked  upon  the 
matter  as  a  military  necessity,  and  accordingly  accepted 
the  situation  as  the  best  and  only  thing  that  could  be 
done  in  order  to  preserve  and  maintain  the  strength 
and  efficiency  of  the  service.  The  regiment  was  re- 
organized on  May  8,  1862,  the  day  set  apart  for  the  re- 
organization of  the  whole  army.  Many  entered  into 
the  measure  under  protest,  and  some  deserted,  though 
quiet  was  soon  restored,  and  the  men  became  recon- 
ciled to  the  situation.  Some  of  the  commissioned 
officers  were  re-elected;  others  were  elected  to  higher 
offices,  and  others  went  home.  Of  the  latter  class, 
many  joined  the  cavalry  or  entered  other  departments 
of  the  service,  while  some  were  fully  satisfied  with  one 
year's  experience  in  war  and  not  only  failed  to  re-enter 
the  service,  but  were  to  some  extent  so  indifferent  to 
the  cause  as  to  appear  tender-footed  on  the  issues  ever 
afterward.  It  was  thus  in  all  the  regiments.  The  pa- 
triotism of  a  few  men  completely  exhausted  itself  dur- 
ing the  first  year,  and  they  appeared  fully  inclined  to 
cancel  the  contract  into  which  they  at  first  entered 
with  so  much  enthusiasm. 

By  the  reorganization  and  promotion  of  the  officers 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers  many 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  197 

vacancies  were  filled  from  the  ranks,  and,  in  fact,  after 
the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  it  was  better  offi- 
cered than  before;  and  this  was  the  situation  of  the 
different  regiments  of  the  army.  The  first  officers 
were  good  men,  though  they  were  'selected  more 
through  their  standing  and  influence  in  private  life 
than  through  their  efficiency.  The  standard  of  quali- 
fications was  elevated  at  the  reorganization,  and  the 
true  competency  of  the  aspirant  was  the  only  currency 
that  secured  his  commission.  In  this  manner  the  regi- 
ment was  officered,  principally, with  young  and  middle- 
aged  men.  The  events  of  the  following  years  of  the 
war  showed  how  well  they  were  qualified  to  perform 
the  duties  assigned  them. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  reorganization  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

FIELD    AND    STAFF. 

WILLIAM  LAWSON  MOORE,  Colonel; 

JOHN  H.  ANDERSON,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

C.  C.  McKiNNEY,  Major; 

JOHN  D.  TOLLEY,  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant; 

Dr.  COLLINS,  Surgeon; 

Dr.  GRANVILLE  B.  LESTER,  Assistant  Surgeon; 
RANE  R.  MCKINNEY,  Quartermaster; 
WILLIS  STONE,  Commissary; 
Rev.  M.  B.  DE  WITT,  Chaplain. 

Dr.  S.  E.  H.  Dance,  who  had  been  assistant  surgeon 
in  Turney's  First  Tennessee  Regiment,  and  had  served 
in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  until  after  the  battle 
of  Sharpsburg,  was,  during  the  following  year,  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  a  full  surgeon,  and  assigned  to 
duty  in  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers, 
through  the  request  of  Colonel  Moore  and  Adjutant 


198  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

Tolley,  to  fill  the  position  vacated  by  Dr.  Collins.  Dr. 
Dance  assumed  the  duties  of  surgeon  of  the  Eighth 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers  on  the  eve  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Murfreesboro,  and  continued  with  the  regiment 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  company  officers  of  the  regiment  elected  at  the 
time  of  the  reorganization  were  as  follows: 

CAPTAINS  OF  COMPANIES. 
Company  A,  Captain  WILLIAM  BURFORD; 
Company  B,  Captain  W.  G.  CHOWNING; 
Company  C,  Captain  W.  H.  BLAKE; 
Company  D,  Captain  JOHN  SHOOK; 
Company  E,  Captain  N.  M.  BEARDEN; 
Company  F,  Captain  JAMES  CULLOM; 
Company  G,  Captain  WILLIAM  SADLER; 
Company  H,  Captain  T.  J.  DAVIS; 
Company  I,  Captain  J.  M.  McArEE; 
Company  K,  Captain  WILLIAM  J.  THRASH. 

After  the  reorganization,  the  Eighth  Regiment  re- 
mained at  Corinth  during  the  siege,  and  retreated  with 
the  army  to  Tupelo.  It  accompanied  its  brigade 
throughout  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Perryville.  It  was  by  the  side  of  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers  in  all  its 
campaigns  and  marches,  and  the  history  of  the  one 
regiment  is  virtually  the  history  of  the  other.  The 
men  of  the  two  regiments  were  warmly  attached  to 
each  other,  and  on  the  march*and  in  the  camp  many 
amusing  incidents  occurred  in  which  the  men  of  one 
or  the  other  or  both  of  these  regiments  were  principal 
actors.  There  was  one  peculiar  characteristic  of  many 
of  the  men  of  the  two  regiments,  and  that  was  a  harm- 
less insubordination  at  times  when. there  was  no  dan- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  199 

ger.  The  men  would  forage,  and  no  guard  could  be 
placed  so  strong,  and  with  instructions  so  strenuous 
and  rigid,  as  to  withstand  the  sagacity  and  cunning  of 
a  member  of  the  Eighth  or  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Reg- 
iment. They  acquainted  themselves  with  the  country 
for  miles  on  either  side  of  the  line  of  march,  and  .were 
always  up  with  their  command  at  night,  laden  with 
the  fruits  of  the  tramp  in  the  way  of  chickens,  veg- 
etables, and  not  unfrequently  a  few  canteens  of  whisky. 
The  men  would  not  pillage  or  plunder  the  people,  but 
would  pay  for  what  they  procured,  with  here  and  there 
a  few  exceptions.  In  each  regiment  there  were  a  few 
men  who  could  find  a  still-house  if  it  was  within  twenty 
miles  of  the  line  of  march,  and  could  go  to  it  and  be 
in  camp  at  night  against  supper  time.  When  any  of 
the  boys  procured  whisky,  they  would  divide  with 
their  comrades,  and  a  general  jollification  would  some- 
times ensue;  but  the  closest  scrutiny  of  the  brigade 
and  regimental  officers  could  seldom,  if  ever,  locate  the 
evil,  or  ascertain  who  procured,  or  was  in  possession 
of,  the  whisky. 

The  most  amusing  incident  of  this  kind  occurred  at 
Sparta,  while  Bragg's  army  was  on  its  way  to  Ken- 
tucky. In  the  counties  of  Van  Buren,  White,  War- 
ren, and  DeKalb  were  the  homes  of  the  most  of  the 
boys  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment.  As  a 
result,  many  of  the  boys  broke  ranks  and  went  home, 
but  got  with  the  regiment  at  Sparta  the  next  morning, 
where  the  army  encamped  for  twenty-four  hours.  The 
boys  of  the  Sixteenth  were  loaded  down  with  good 
things  to  eat.  Their  people  had  come  to  camps  through 
the  day  and  brought  them  many  luxuries,  including  a 
good  supply  of  apple  brandy  and  corn  whisky.  The 
old  Sixteenth  was  lively  and  jolly.  Toward  evening 


2oo  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

they  had  got  with  the  Eighth  Tennessee,  and  not  only 
divided  with  the  boys,  but  showed  them  the  way  to 
where  more  was  to  be  had,  and  they  went  after  it.  By 
night  the  two  regiments  were  on  an  equal  footing  in 
mirth  and  hilarity.  General  Donelson  knew  the  drift 
of  events,  and  to  cut  off  the  supply  of  whisky  from 
the  boys,  ordered  a  strong  guard  to  be  put  out  around 
the  brigade,  and  instructed  the  officers  of  the  guard  to 
pay  particular  attention  and  see  that  not  a  single  man 
was  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  brigade  encampment 
except  by  explicit  authority  from  brigade  head-quar- 
ters. An  officer  of  the  Eighth  Tennessee  was  brigade 
officer  of  the  day,  and  to  him  was  assigned  the  duty  of 
putting  out  the  guard  around  the  brigade.  Getting  the 
guard  properly  mounted  after  dark,  he  started  out  to 
post  them.  Placing  a  man  at  a  designated  point,  he 
moved  on,  posting  his  sentinels  very  close  together,  as 
he  thought.  As  the  detail  would  move  on  to  the  next 
post,  the  last  sentinel  posted  would  fall  in  on  the  rear 
and  move  on  with  the  rest.  In  this  way  the  officer  of 
the  day  made  the  circuit  of  the  brigade  and  had  the 
same  number  of  men  he  started  with.  Not  finding 
the  sentinel  first  posted,  he  moved  on  to  the  next  post 
and  found  it  vacant.  In  this  manner  he  continued 
around  the  brigade  again,  but  failed  to  find  the  senti- 
nels anywhere.  When  he  saw  that  he  had  the  origi- 
nal number  of  sentinels  he  started  out  with,  he  con- 
cluded that  there  was  something  mysterious  about  it, 
and  procured  an  ax  with  which  he  blazed  the  trees  at 
the  places  where  he  posted  his  sentinels,  so  that  he 
could  the  more  easily  find  his  first  starting-point  in  the 
darkness.  In  this  manner  he  made  the  circuit  of  the 
brigade  again,  and  his  detail  had  not  diminished  at  all. 
General  Donelson  was  becoming'  wrothy  by  this  time, 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  201 

and  sent  out  to  know  'what  'was  the  matter  that  the 
brigade  guard  could  not  be  posted.  Some  officers  went 
to  his  tent  and  told  him  that  many  of  the  men  were  in 
the  neighborhood  of  their  homes  and  were  having  some 
fun;  that  there  was  no  danger,  and  the  men  knew  it — 
that  every  man  would  be  in  place  at  the  proper  time. 
This  appeased  the  General  for  the  time  being,  and  the 
brigade  guard  was  dispensed  with.  In  the  morning, 
every  man  was  at  his  post  and  ready  for  the  march. 

The  men  of  the  Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments 
would  have  their  fun  and  would  forage,  but  when 
emergencies  would  arise,  they  could  be  found  right  at 
their  posts,  and  they  •would  stay  there  till  the  trouble 
was  over. 

In  the  Kentucky  campaign,  Colonel  Moore's  Eighth 
Regiment  encamped  at  his  old  home  on  the  evening 
before  the  battle  of  Perryville.  On  October  8,  when 
Folk's  corps  was  ordered  to  the  right  below  Perryville, 
as  the  army  approached  the  Chaplin  Creek,  the  Eighth 
and  Fifty -first  Tennessee  Regiments  were  detached 
from  the  brigade,  with  a  section  of  Carnes's  battery, 
and  sent  to  the  extreme  right  under  Colonel  Wharton 
of  the  Texas  Rangers.  This  movement  was  for  the 
purpose  of  gaining  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  left  wing. 
The  movement  was  successfully  accomplished,  by 
which  the  enemy  was  confused  and  swung  back  upon 
his  main  line  almost  simultaneously  with  the  approach 
of  Maney's  brigade.  This  detour  on  the  right  at  such 
an  opportune  moment  enabled  Maney's  brigade  to  hurl 
back  the  force  in  its  front,  but  at  a  fearful  cost  of  life. 
The  Federal  line  being  broken,  retreated  to  the  brow 
of  a  hill  about  six  hundred  yards  distant  and  reformed. 
The  Confederates  pressed  their  opportunity  and  gained 
a  decided  victory. 


202  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

In  this  battle,  Adjutant  John  D.  Tolley,  of  the  Eighth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  was  wounded  while  standing  on 
the  premises  where  his  father  was  born,  and  the  house 
was  set  on  fire  and  burned  by  the  enemy's  shells. 

In  the  affair  with  the  enemy  on  the  extreme  right,  at 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  the  Eighth  Tennessee  did  val- 
uable service,  though  its  losses  were  not  so  heavy  as 
that  of  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  who  attacked 
the  enemy  in  front.  The  action  of  the  Eighth  and 
Fifty-first,  with  the  section  of  artillery,  had  much  to  do 
in  deciding  the  issue  of  the  day.  The  officers  and  men 
of  the  expedition  performed  their  parts  well. 

The  regiment  retreated  with  Bragg's  army  from  Ken- 
tucky, and  appeared  with  its  brigade  before  Murfrees- 
boro  in  December,  1862.  Having  recruited  its  ranks, 
its  numbers  were  full  and  the  men  were  in  good  health 
and  fine  spirits. 

The  Confederate  army  under  General  Bragg  was 
composed  of  two  corps,  commanded  respectively  by 
Lieutenant-generals  Polk  and  Hardee.  Hardee  was  in 
command  of  the  left  wing  and  Polk  was  in  command 
of  the  right  wing  of  the  Confederate  forces.  On  the 
morning  of  December  31,  Hardee  attacked  Rosecrans's 
right  wing  and  turned  it  upon  its  marn  line.  The  at- 
tack was  made  at  daylight,  and  was  attended  with  the 
best  of  consequences  in  Hardee's  front.  Polk  was  ex- 
pected to  act  in  concert  with  Hardee,  and  make  his 
attack  simultaneous  with  the  attack  on  the  Confederate 
left.  For  some  cause  Polk's  action  was  hindered,  by 
which  the  enemy  had  ample  time  to  rearrange  and 
strengthen  his  lines  in  Polk's  front.  The  advance  was 
finally  ordered  on  the  extreme  right,  and  the  enemy 
being  strongly  posted  in  a  well-chosen  position,  was 
not  so  easily  dislodged.  The  battle  raged  throughout 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  203 

the  day,  and  the  issue  seemed  doubtful.  Night  closed 
upon  the  scene  with  a  victory  in  Hardee's  front.  While 
the  ground  in  front  of  Folk's  corps  had  been  stub- 
bornly contested,  and  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and 
dying,  each  party  had  maintained  its  ground  at  fear- 
ful cost.  On  the  following  day  the  Federals  had  gained 
and  fortified  an  eminence  on  the  Confederate  right, 
from  which  it  was  found  impracticable  to  dislodge 
them.  The  result  was  a  retreat  from  Murfreesboro. 
The  Confederates  withdrew  to  Shelbyville  and  Tulla- 
homa,  and  the  Federals  remained  about  Murfreesboro 
during  the  remainder  of  the  winter  and  the  following 
spring  months. 

In  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  the  Eighth  Tennessee 
suffered  heavier  losses  than  in  any  engagement  during 
the  war.  Among  its  valuable  officers  who  fell  in  this 
battle  was  its  regimental  commander,  Colonel  William 
L.  Moore.  Colonel  Moore  was  a  native  of  Lincoln 
county,  Tenn.,  and  was  the  son  of  General  William 
Moore,  who  was  a  soldier  under  Jackson.  Colonel 
Moore  w'as  born  near  the  town  of  Mulberry,  in  Lin- 
coln county  (now  Moore  county),  May  5,  1830.  In 
his  boyhood  he  received  a  good  education,  having  the 
benefit  of  good  schools,  and  as  he  approached  the  age 
of  manhood,  he  was  placed  in  school  at  Danville.  Ky., 
the  home  of  his  grandparents,  where  he  completed  his 
education;  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Harrodsburg  with  Collins  Moore,  who  was 
his  uncle.  In  the  year  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Neet,  of  Woodford  county,  Ky.  After  his  marriage 
he  remained  at  Harrodsburg  for  two  years,  when  he 
removed  to  his  paternal  home  on  account  of  the  de- 
clining years  of  his  father,  who  had  called  him  hither 
to  look  after  a  large  business.  Here  he  resided  until 


204 


THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  the  States,  when 
he  enlisted  a  company  of  his  neighbors,  and  was  elected 
to  the  captaincy  of  the  same.  The  company  was  from 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  L.  MOORE. 

the  village  of  Mulberry  and  vicinity,  and  was  known 
as  "  The  Mulberry  Grays." 

Colonel  Moore  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment  in  May,  1861,  and  at  the 
reorganization  was  elected  colonel.  A  kind  officer,  a 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  205 

brave  soldier,  and  a  Christian  gentleman,  he  was  loved 
by  his  men,  whom  he  led  with  characteristic  coolness 
and  gallantry  in  the  affairs  with  the  enemy  at  Cheat 
Mountain  and  Port  Royal  Ferry,  at  Perryville  and 
Murfreesboro.  In  the  last-named  battle,  on  December 
31,  1862,  he  gave  his  life  to  the  cause  he  had  espoused, 
and  fell  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  His  horse  had  been 
shot  from  tinder  him  but  a  few  moments  previously, 
and  in  falling  he  was  caught  under  its  body.  Extri- 
cating himself  with  difficulty,  he  had  merely  gained 
his  feet  and  spoken  a  cheering  word  to  his  men,  when 
a  ball  from  the  enemy  pierced  him  in  the  breast  and 
he  fell.  His  death  was  almost  instantaneous.  The  bat- 
tle was  raging  fearfully  at  the  time,  and  the  slaughter 
on  both  sides  was  terrible.  The  Eighth  Tennessee 
suffered  severely  in  this  battle.  Its  killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  more  than  half  its  numbers  in  the  carnage 
of  the  first  day's  fight,  when  the  regiment  lost  its  gal- 
lant leader. 

'  Captain  Bearden  was  also  slain,  he  and  nine  of  his 
men  falling  by  the  same  shot  from  the  enemy's  cannon. 
One  single  shell  exploded  in  their  midst,  and  ten  lives 
were  the  fruit  of  its  unerring  aim. 

Colonel  Moore's  death  was  lamented  by  a  large  cir- 
cle of  relatives  and  friends,  who  had  known  his  sterling: 

O 

qualities  from  childhood,  and  by  his  comrades  in  arms, 
who  knew  him  but  to  love  him. 

Tullahoma  Lodge,  No.  262,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, passed  the  following  resolutions  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  Colonel  Moore,  as  reported  by  the  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  lodge  for  the  purpose: 


206  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


TRIBUTE  OF  RESPECT. 

TULLAHOMA    LODGE,    No.    262. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  drafting  of  resolu- 
tions to  the  memory  of  our  much-lamented  brother,  William 
Lawson  Moore,  report  that  he  was  born  in  the  county  of  Lincoln, 
State  of  Tennessee,  on  the  5th  day  of  May,  1830,  and  suddenly 
fell  on  the  field  of  battle,  on  the  3ist  day  of  December,  1862,  in 
the  thirty-third  year  of  his  age. 

He  entered  the  Southern  army  in  April,  1861,  and  was  unani- 
mously elected  captain  of  his  company;  and  on  being  attached 
to  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  was  unanimously 
elected  lieutenant-colonel,  and,  at  the  reorganization  of  the 
army,  under  act  of  Congress,  he  descended  to  the  ranks,  from 
which  he  was  called  to  the  command  of  his  regiment  by  its  unan- 
imous voice. 

His  modesty  forbade  his  seeking  office,  and  his  gallantry  for- 
bade his  declining  its  duties.  His  men  loved  him.  He  com- 
manded their  affections  and  their  arms.  In  time  of  trial  and 
emergency  his  regiment  was  looked  to  with  confidence  and  emu- 
lation. At  Corinth  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him.  He 
held  his  command  on  foot,  receiving  a  painful  wound  in  the  hand. 
In  duty,  he  was  fearless;  in  authority,  he  was  calm;  and  in  emer- 
gency, he  was  brave.  He  nobly  distinguished  himself  in  his  suc- 
cessful charge  of  the  enemy  at  Perry ville,  Ky.,  and  the  noted 
battle  of  Murfreesboro  on  the  last  day  of  the  eventful  year  1862. 
He  held  his  command  at  the  very  furnace  of  the  conflict;  his 
horse  fell  from  under  him;  he  leaped  to  his  feet  with  three 
wounds  upon  his  body,  unknown  to  all  but  himself,  calling  on  his 
men,  "Forward,  my  brave  boys!"  when  a  ball  penetrated  the 
vital  breast  and  he  spoke  no  more.  He  fell,  but  he  fell  forward, 
and  his  noble  spirit  fled.  The  pen  of  the  historian  of  that  bloody 
conflict  is  now  ascribing  to  the  prowess  and  gallantry  which  he 
displayed  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  and  capture  of  the  spoils. 

Those  qualities  which  endear  his  memory  to  all  who  knew 
him,  are  not  restricted  to  his  short  military  career.  That  is 
rather  a  history  of  his  death  than  of  his  life,  and  he  fell  before 
he  had  seen  the  harvest  of  what  he  had  sown,  or  finished  what 
he  had  well  begun. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  207 

He  was  one  of  Tennessee's  favorite  sons.  In  all  the  different 
relations  of  life  which  he  sustained,  are  written  the  essays  of  the 
honest  man,  the  good  citizen,  the  generous  neighbor,  the  kind 
father,  the  fond  brother,  the  loving  husband,  and  his  fidelity  to 
the  Christian  faith.  In  the  death  of  so  valuable  a  citizen,  we 
deplore  his  loss  and  sympathize  with  the  common  heart;  and,  as 
a  brother  of  our  mystic  order,  we  feel  with  deepest  sense  the 
breach  of  fraternal  ties. 

Clustered  around  this  scene  hang  the  wreaths  of  mourning  in 
their  most  melancholy  significance.  In  the  midst  of  circum- 
stances favorable  to  the  hope  of  many  peaceful  years,  with  one 
fell  blow  he  is  stricken  down.  The  suddenness,  the  place,  the 
time,  and  manner  of  his  death — the  many  relationships  which 
clung  around,  and  the  many  bereaved  hearts,  conspire  to 
checker  the  scene.  He  was  the  untje  and  guardian  of  an  or- 
phan minor,  the  only  brother  of  five  doting  sisters,  and  the 
father  of  four  interesting  children,  never  to  hear  his  instructing 
voice  or  see  his  smiling  face  again;  the  only  son  of  an  aged  fa- 
ther, grown  gray  with  the  buffetings  of  many  years,  who  had 
laid  his  last  weighty  cares  upon  his  shoulders;  and  still  more 
sad,  the  husband  of  a  loving  wife,  whose  affections,  charities, 
and  social  qualities  entitle  her  to  hopes  more  bright  than  the 
altar  of  mourning,  and  a  destiny  more  serene  than  the  desolate 
beach  of  a  troubled  sea.  The  fact  that  he  was  the  participant  of 
her  joys,  the  support  of  her  hopes,  and  guide  through  the  cloud 
and  the  storm,  is  a  consideration  that  widens  the  avenues  of  sor- 
row and  disappointment. 

He  snatched  from  the  camp  and  the  march  a  few  fleeting  hours 
to  mingle  once  more  with  the  pleasures  of  home,  with  his  family 
and  friends,  and  to  share  the  greetings  of  a  happy  Christmas, 
but  the  parting  hour  made  haste.  Lighted  by  a  brightened  sky, 
joy  had  perched  upon  the  pinions  of  pleasing  expectations, 
cheered  by  the  hope  of  meeting  again.  Added  to  all  this,  to 
make  the  sadness  more  intense,  his  nephew,  W.  H.  Holman,  a 
young  man  who  bore  with  him  the  award  of  esteem  from  all  who 
knew  him — the  only  son  of  a  deceased  sister — belonging  to  his 
command,  was  also  present,  participating  in  the  social  festivities 
of  the  happy  circle,  and  mingling  jwith  the  solicitudes  which  flut- 
tered around  the  omens  of  the  future.  But,  oh!  how  deep  the 
pain  to  tell!  They  both  fell,  bleeding  offerings  upon  the  altar  of 


208  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

war,  on  the  same  field  and  on  the  same  day.  The  sun  which 
rose  upon  their  buoyant  spirits,  set  upon  their  dead  bodies,  cold 
and  lifeless  in  the  gore  of  battle.  Their  remains  were  gathered 
up  and  deposited  in  the  same  cemetery,  on  the  same  day,  in  two 
distinct  graves,  consecrated  with  the  sighs  and  tears  of  assembled 
relatives  and  friends. 

Perhaps  there  were  no  two  men  whose  sudden  death  and  irrep- 
arable loss  could  affect  so  deeply  so  many  hopes  and  anxieties. 
Death  pursues  with  a  smiling  face  and  strikes  his  deepest  blow 
where  fondest  expectations  meet.  One  item  in  connection  with 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  is  that  the  very  spot  which  gave  him 
birth,  the  very  garden  that  nourished  his  infancv  to  manhood, 
has  opened  her  bosom  to  receive  him  back,  to  hold  him  in  her 
embrace,  as  the  chosen  hostage,  to  the  day  of  retribution. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Colonel  William  Lawson 
Moore  society  has  sustained  an  irreparable  loss,  but  should  cher- 
ish his  good  qualities  as  a  bequeathed  inheritance,  to  imitate  his 
example  and  emulate  his  virtues. 

Resolved,  That  we  deplore  his  loss  and  condole  with  the  be- 
reaved; our  balm  is  too  stale  to  heal  affection's  wounds  so  deep, 
but  we  would  commend  them  to  the  God  in  whom  we  trust,  who 
"healeth  the  broken  in  heart  and  bindeth  up  their  wounds." 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  surviving  widow  and  her  four 
little  ones  our  best  wishes  for  their  happiness.  We  cannot  take 
away  their  afflictions,  but  will  help  bear  them;  and  that  they  be 
furnished  a  copy  of  these  proceedings  by  the  secretary. 

Resolved,  That  we  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for 
thirty  days.  Jo.  C.  HOLT, 

E.  C.  McLouGHLix, 
J.  GRIZZARD, 

Committee. 

A  true  copy.     Attest: 
J.  GRIZZARD,  Secretary  Tullahoma  Lodge,  No.  262. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Moore,  the  command 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers  de- 
volved upon  Lieutenant-colonel  John  H.  Anderson, 
who  was  made  colonel  of -the  regiment,  and  remained 
with  it  to  the  close  of  the  war.  Colonel  Anderson  was 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  209 

an  able  and  gallant  officer,  and  a  man  highly  respected 
and   honored,    not   only  by  the   men    of  his   regiment, 
but  by  all  who  knew  him.     He  commanded  the  Eighth 
Regiment  through  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  his 
official  report  of  the  part  performed  by  his  regiment 
in  that  battle  is  furnished  in  another  part,  of  this  work. 
At  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  the  brigade  un- 
der Brigadier-general  Marcus  J.  Wright  was  placed  on 
the  extreme  right  of  the  Confederate  line  of  defense. 
This    point  was    threatened  by  a  heavy  force  of   the 
enemy,  who  was  trying  to  cut  off  Bragg's  communica- 
tions and  destroy  his  stores  at  Chickamauga  Station. 
The  task  assigned  to  Wright's  brigade  was  an  arduous 
one,  as  the  Confederate  line  of  defenses,  already  weak- 
ened by  the  withdrawal  of  troops   for  the   East  Ten- 
nessee campaign,  was  now  lengthened  so  far  that  in 
many  points  it  was  a  mere  skirmish  line,  and  with  no 
reserves,  and  no  means  of  concentration  at  any  point. 
The  brigade  passed  the  day  in  front  of  an  enemy  many 
times  its  number,  while  the  battle  raged  furiously  on 
the  left  and  center.     The  operations  on  the  right  were 
confined   to   maneuverings    principally,   in   which   the 
brigade  encountered  the  enemy  in  the  forenoon  on  the 
•opposite  side  of  Chickamauga  Creek.     This  being  to 
some  extent  a  surprise,  and  the  ground  unfavorable  to 
defense,  General    Wright  withdrew  his    brigade   to  a 
more  eligible  position.      In  this  affair  with  the  enemy 
across  the  creek  there  were  some  casualties  among  the 
Tennessee  troops,  but  comparatively  few  in  number. 

After  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  General 
Wright  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Atlanta,  as  commander 
of  the  district  and  post.  Colonel  John  H.  Anderson, 
of  the  Eighth  Tennessee,  was  then  placed  in  command 
of  the  brigade,  a  position  he  filled  until  after  the  army 
14 


2io  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

was  established  in  its  winter  quarters  at  Dalton.  The 
staff  officers  were  retained,  and  afterward  the  brigade 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  C. 
Carter,  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Tennessee.  Colonel  Car- 
ter was  subsequently  commissioned  a  brigadier-gen- 
eral, and  commanded  Wright's  brigade,  in  its  engage- 
ments, to  the  battle  of  Franklin,  in  which  he  lost  his 
life. 

Colonel  Anderson  commanded  the  Eighth  Tennes- 
see throughout  the  Georgia  campaign,  and  after  its 
consolidation  with  other  regiments  he  commanded 
the  consolidated  regiments  to  the  time  of  the  surrender. 
Colonel  Anderson  was  born  in  Wilson  county,  Tenn., 
near  the  town  of  Lebanon,  August  6,  1831.  His  an- 
cestors came  from  Virginia.  His  parents,  Frank  An- 
derson, jr.,  and  Eleanor  T.  Anderson,  resided  in  Wil- 
son county.  Colonel  Anderson  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  at  Lebanon,  and  afterward  was  a 
student  of  Irving  College,  in  Warren  county.  Before 
the  war  he  was  a  merchant.  When  the  war  broke  out 
in  1861,  he  enlisted  a  company  for  the  State  service, 
and  was  elected  captain  of  the  same.  This  company 
was  a  part  of  the  Tenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  and  its 
first  service  was  at  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee  river. 
At  the  fall  of  this  place,  the  Confederates  retreated  to 
Fort  Donelson.  The  Tenth  Tennessee  was  in  the 
battle  at  this  place,  and  was  surrendered  with  the  gar- 
rison. 

A  few  days  after  the  surrender  Captain  Anderson 
succeeded  in  making  his  escape,  in  company  with 
General  Bushrod  R.  Johnson,  and  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Albert  S.  Johnston  at  Decatur.  General  Bushrod 
Johnson  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade, 
and  Captain  Anderson  was  assigned  to  duty  on  his 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  211 

staff.  In  this  capacity  he  fought  through  the  first  day's 
battle  of  Shiloh.  General  Bushrod  Johnson  having 
been  wounded  during  the  first  day's  fight  at  Shiloh, 
Captain  Anderson  was  assigned  to  duty  on  General 
Cheatham's  staff,  in  which  capacity  he  served  through 
the  second  day's  fight,  and  remained  a  member  of 
Cheatham's  staff  till  the  beginning  of  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  whe"n  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Eighth 
Tennessee  Regiment  by  order  of  General  Bragg,  hav- 
ing been' promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  for  gallantry 
displayed  on  the  field  of  Shiloh. 

Colonel  Anderson  was  with  the  Eighth  Tennessee 
at  the  battles  of  Perryville  and  Murfreesboro.  During 
the  last-named  battle  Colonel  W.  L.  Moore,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Eighth  Tennessee,  was  killed,  and  Colo- 
nel Anderson  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the 
regiment  as  a  full  colonel. 

At  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  General  Wright 
became  indisposed  and  turned  over  the  command  of 
the  brigade  to  Colonel  Anderson,  who  continued  as  its 
commander  until  the  return  of  Colonel  Carter  to  the 
army  shortly  before  the  opening  of  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign. Colonel  Carter  now  commanded  the  brigade 
and  Colonel  Anderson  returned  to  the  command  of 
his  regiment. 

When  the  army  arrived  before  Atlanta,  Colonel  An- 
derson was  again  placed  in  command  of  the  brigade. 
He  led  the  brigade  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
July  20  ;  also  in  the  different  battles  around  Atlanta. 
He  commanded  the  brigade  much  of  the  time  from  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  till  after  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin, when  he  was  placed  in  command  of  Gist's  brigade 
of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  troops,  and  served  in 


212  'THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 

this   capacity  to  the  surrender  of.  the  Confederate  ar- 
mies. 

During  the  war  Colonel  Anderson  received  two 
wounds,  one  in  the  leg,  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  the 
other  in  the  shoulder,  at  Chickamauga.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  following  battles:  Fort  Henry,  Fort  Don- 
elson,  Shiloh,  Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga, 
Missionary  Ridge,  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Ken- 
nesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  battles  around 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Franklin,  Nashville,  Bentonville, 
N.  C.,  in  all  of  which  he  distinguished  himself  as  a 
brave  soldier  and  good  commander. 

The  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment  was  engaged  in  all 
the  battles  of  the  Georgia  campaign,  and  sustained 
heavy  losses  in  killed  and  wounded.  It  accompanied 
the  army  in  the  Tennessee  campaign  after  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Franklin  and 
the  battles  around  Nashville. 

It  suffered  severely  in  these  battles,  and  left  upon  the 
field  many  of  its  bravest  and  best  men.  In  the  battle 
of  Franklin,  Brigadier-general  John  C.  Carter,  com- 
manding Wright's  brigade,  was  killed  while  leading 
his  men  in  the  thickest  and  hottest  of  the  fight. 

Following  its  command  from  Nashville  to  Missis- 
sippi, thence  to  North  Carolina,  where  the  last  battle 
was  fought,  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volun- 
teers surrendered  on  May  27,  1865,  in  common  with 
the  rest  of  the  army,  and  accepted  the  generous  terms 
offered  by  their  stronger  and  more  successful  adver- 
sary. Laying  down  their  arms,  they  donned  the  habil- 
iments of  peace,  and,  weary  and  covered  with  many 
scars  of  combat,  they  returned  to  their  homes  and  ap- 
plied themselves  to  the  work  of  recuperating  their  lost 
fortunes  with  the  same  zeal  and  assiduity  that  had 


TENNESSEE  REGIMENT.  213 

characterized  their  action  as  soldiers  on  so  many  ardu- 
ous campaigns  and  on  so  many  hard-fought  battle- 
fields. The  men  accepted  the  situation  in  good  faith, 
and  as  they  had  been  zealous  and  honorable  as  soldiers, 
they  now  exercised  the  same  noble  qualities,  with  all 
the  embellishments  available  to  the  paths  of  peace. 
Though  seemingly  unpleasant  at  first,  with  a  race  e.le- 
vated  to  their  political  equals,  and  whom  they  had  al- 
ways known  as  their  slaves  and  inferiors  in  every  re- 
spect, the  situation  was  at  first  disagreeable,  yet  time 
wore  away  prejudices.  The  white  man  treated  the 
colored  man  with  courtesy  and  kindness,  and  soon 
learned  him  that  his  best  friends  were  those  best  ac- 
quainted with  his  nature  and  habits,  and  the  colored 
man  became  the  firm  and  fast  friend  of  the  Southern 
white  man.  Terms  of  amity  and  mutual  interest 
sprung  up  between  employer  and  employe,  and  the 
old  soldiers  made  rapid  progress  in  thrift  and  pros- 
perity. 

Many  of  the  members  of  the  old  Eighth  came  home 
at  the  close  of  the  war  possessed  of  nothing  but  their 
lives  and  their  honor.  By  industry,  economy,  and 
honorable  dealing  many  have  accumulated  bountiful 
stores  of  this  world's  goods,  and  are  possessed  of  hand- 
some fortunes.  Yet  the  number  of  survivors  at  pres- 
ent is  comparatively  small,  when  we  consider  the  num- 
ber who  went  out  with  the  regiment  in  1861  and  the 
small  number  who  surrendered  in  1865.  Nearly  one 
fourth  the  original  number  sleep  upon  the  different 
battle-fields  'from  the  Potomac  to  the  Mississippi  and 
the  Gulf.  In  the  four  years  of  war  more  than  two 
thirds  of  the  members  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  felt  the 
missiles  of  its  enemy's  guns,  and  many  of  the  stirvivors 
carry  honorable  scars.  The  long  list  of  casualties  have 


214 


THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


a  claim    upon   our   affections  and   our   memory.      We 
cherish  their  memory.     We  cannot  forget  them. 

The  following  muster-rolls  give  the  members  of  the 
regiment  by  companies,  with   the  casualties  of  some 

of  the  companies: 

COMPANY  A. 


OFFICERS. 


J.  L.  Bryant,  Captain. 

J.  P.  Holland,  First  Lieutenant. 

B.  B.  Bowers,  Second  Lieutenant. 


T.  F.  Brooks,  Third  Lieutenant. 
T.  E.  Russell,  Orderly  Sergeant. 


PRIVATES. 


W.  C.  Andrews. 
D.  A.  Bethune. 
W.  M.  Bethune. 
J.  F.  Biggers. 
J.  W.  Biggers. 
R.  W.  Biggers. 
W.  T.  Blackwell. 
T.  E.  Brents. 
J.  8.  Brooks. 
Wiles  Busset. 
J.  R.  Butler. 
W.  L.  Carrier. 
Monroe  Cauley. 
Joe  Cauler. 
G.  W.  Causby. 
J.  B.  Collins. 
Jones  Collins. 
George  Crabtree. 
J.  H.  Darnell. 
Joel  Dodd. 
W.  8.  Dodd. 
J.  D.  Dyer. 
George  Foster. 
Thomas  Franklin. 
W.  F.  Gulley. 
J.  Haislip. 
J.  H.  Haislip. 
J.  W.  Haislip. 
O.  P.  Hill. 
J.  N.  Hitchman. 
W.  L.  Hitchman. 
D.  P.  Hogan. 
J.  A.  Hogan. 
Milton  Largen. 


R.  H.  Largen. 
J.  M.  Luna. 
M.  V.  Luna. 
R.  H.  Luna. 
William  Luna. 
E.  Malone. 
W.  A.  Malone. 
H.  N.  Maulden. 
A.  M.  Meadows. 
J.  A.  Morris. 
J.  M.  McAfee. 
J.  A.  McCrory. 
R.  J.  McCrory. 
W.  H.  McCrory. 
J.  M.  Nichols. 
A.  J.  Patterson. 
W.  H.  Peach. 
W.  H.  Pearson. 
M.  Petty. 
H.  M.'  Pyles. 
E.  F.  Rambo. 
G.  W.  Russell. 
J.  C.  Sanders. 
W.  J.  Shaw. 
R.  A.  Shaw. 
R.  J.  Shaw. 
J.  Stilwell. 
P.  H.  Tally.  * 
D.  E.  Tally. 
J.  J.  Tally. 
J.  N.  Tally. 
J.  G.  Troop. 
J.  F.  W.  Wakefleld. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


215 


COMPANY  B. 


OFFICERS. 


A.  M.  Hall,  Captain. 

C.  C.  McKinney,  First  Lieutenant. 


T.  W.  Bledsoe,  Second  Lieutenant. 
C.  N.  Allen,  Third  Lieutenant. 


PRIVATES. 


N.  B.  Bates. 
W.  H.  Blake. 
L.  D.  Blake. 
George  W.  Blake. 
Thomas  Blakemore. 
Anderson  Blakemore. 
.Tames  Blakemore. 
Henry  Blakemore. 
T.  O.  Blacknall. 
John  Y.  Blacknall. 
John  Bradford. 
Jack  Branson. 
W.  D.  Bonds. 
S.  S.  Bonds. 
John  Bonds. 
John  Brewer. 
Green  Brewer. 

C.  M.  Buchanan. 
James  Buchanan. 
J.  J.  Bonner. 
John  Brown. 
Patrick  Boyles. 
Elisha  Blackwell. 
Thomas  Caldwell. 
Martin  Capps. 

H.  K.  Carty. 
George  C.  Carmack. 
James  Clark. 
William  Cole. 
James  Cumberland. 
J.  J.  Cu minings. 
William  Craig. 
John  Davis. 
Jo.  Darnell.- 
James  Darnell. 

D.  T.  Eastland. 

E.  W.  Ellis. 
A.  S.  Fulton. 
William  Freeman. 
W.  H.  Gammell. 
C.  W.  Gill. 
James  Gulley. 


F.  W.  Glidewell. 
John  Gilbert. 
Cullen  Gilbert. 
Wash.  Gilbert. 
John  T.  Green. 
John  R.  Greer. 
John  M.  Hall. 
Harrison  Hall. 
T.  F.  Harris. 
Thomas  Hannaway. 
Eli  Hannaway. 
Thomas  G.  Hester. 
William  Hardin. 
William  Isom. 
Thomas  Jeter. 
William  Jeter. 
Samuel  Jeter. 
George  B.  Keller. 
N.  B.  Koonce. 
H.  C.  Lambert. 
Samuel  J.  Leonard. 
H.  C.  Locker. 
Robert  Locker. 

B.  E.  Malear. 
William  McKauts. 
J.  G.  McEweu. 

E.  R.  McEwen. 

C.  B.  Me  teal  fe. 
Robert  Matthews. 
H.  B.  Matthews. 
W.  H.  Merritt. 
Thomas  Millard. 
Jesse  Mitchell. 
Joseph  Moore. 
James  Mauldin. 
James  Morton. 
R.  A.  Morrison. 
Jacob  Moore. 
John  Nichols. 
William  Nichols. 
Frank  Nichols. 
Henry  Nichols. 


216  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


Briggs  Nichols.  John  Scott. 

Claiborne  Pigg.  A.  B.  Scott. 

Lewis  Peach.  K.  B.  Scott. 

William  Pitcock.  Alex.  Scott. 

George  \V.  Porter.  Herbert  Smith. 

William  Quarles.  J.  K.  Sorrells. 

Bandall  Quarles.  Harvey  Sorrells. 

James  Rives.  W.  T.  Watson. 

William  Rives.  David  Watson. 

B.  T.  Roach.  John  Watson. 

J.  K.  Robinson.  L>avid  Wells. 

William  M.  Roset>oro.  Newton  Wells. 

William  Saunders.  Wyatt  Woodruff. 
E.  M.  Scott. 

PROMOTED. 

W.  H.  Blake.lst  Lieut.,  1861,  Captain,  A.  M.  Hall,  Regimental  Surgeon,  1861. 

1862.  B.  E.  Malear,  1st  Lieut.,  1861,  Captain, 
W.  H.  Bonds,  1st  Lieut.,  1862,  Captain,          1861. 

1863.  J.  G.  McEwen,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 

T.  O.  Blacknall,  2d  Lieut.,  1862.  C.  C.  McKinney,  Major,  1862,  Lieut. - 

A.  S.  Fulton,  Colonel,  1861.  col.,  1863. 

John  M.  Hall,  3d  Lieut.,  1861,  Captain,  C.  B.  Metcalfe,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 
1862. 

KILLED. 

Lieut.  T.  O.  Blacknall,  Murfreesboro.    John  Scott,  Murfrecsboro. 
Cullen  Gilbert,  Murfreesboro.  Newton  Wells,  Murfreesboro. 

Eli  Hanuaway,  Murfreesboro.  John  Nichols,  Chickamauga. 

WOUNDED. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Blake,  Murfreesboro.          H.  C.  Lambert,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Y.  Blacknall,  Murfreesboro.          Samuel  J.  Leonard,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut. W.  D.  Bonds,  Murfreesboro  and  Lieut.  C.  B.  Metcalfe,  Chiekamauga. 

Chickamauga.  W.  H.  Merritt,  Atlanta. 

S.  S.  Bonds,  Murfreesboro.  W.  M.  Roseboro,  Murfreesboro. 

John  Bonds,  Murfreesboro.  A.  B.  Scott,  Murfreesboro. 

C.  M.  Buchanan,  Chickamauga.  N.  B.  Scott,  Perryville  and  Murfrees- 

H.  K.  Carty,  Chickamauga.  boro. 

George  C.  Carmack,  Murfreesboro.         J.  E.  Sorrells,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  J.  Cummings,  Franklin.  Harvey  Sorrells,  Murfreesboro. 

Thomas  Hannaway,  Murfreesboro.         David  Watson,  Murfreesboro. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Blake,  wounds,  Murfrees-  Thos.  Hannaway,  disease,  Prison,  1863. 

boro,  1862.  Alex.  Scott,  disease,  Atlanta,  1863. 

J.  D.  Freeman,  disease,  Murfreesboro,  John  Watson,  disease,  Hospital. 

1862. 

DISCHARGED. 

James  M.  Buchanan,  Pocotaligo,  S.  C.,  Lieut.  T.  W.  Bledsoe,  1861. 

1862.  William  Craig,  1862. 

J.  J.  Bonner,  1862.  W.  H.  Wells,  1862. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


217 


RESIGNED. 

Lieut.  C.  N.  Allen,  Tupelo,  Miss.,  May  8, .1862. 
Col.  A.  S.  Fulton,  Tupelo,  Miss.,  May  8,  1862. 
Surgeon  A.  M.  Hall,  Mumfordville,  Ky.,  Sept.,  1862. 

COMPANY    C. 


OFFICERS. 


R.  R.  McKinney,  Captain. 
M.  M.  Bearden,  First  Lieutenant. 
T.  W.  Raney,  Second  Lieutenant. 
A.  M.  Downing,  Third  Lieutenant. 
R.  D.  Hardin,  First  Sergeant. 
W.  J.  King,  Second  Sergeant. 
E.  J.  Bearden,  Third  Sergeant. 


J.  W.  Rawls,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
W.  C.  Bright,  First  Corporal. 
J.  H.  Fletcher,  Second  Corporal. 

D.  C.  Dewitt,  Third  Corporal. 
J.  H.  Short,  Fourth  Corporal. 
W.  B  Blair,  Drummer. 

E.  F.  Jones,  Fifer. 


PRIVATES. 


Doc  Anderson. 
A.  C.  Beech. 
James  Billings. 
W.  J.  Bland. 
John  Blankenship. 
F.  F.  Blankenship. 
J.  K.  Branson. 
H.  C.  Brian. 
J.  S.  Brown. 
J.  H.  H.  Burns.  . 
J.  M.  Byers. 

E.  M.  Carpenter. 
J.  F.  Caughrau. 
J.  C. -Colbert. 

A.  J.  Commons. 
J.  P.  DolU-r. 
Robert  Daniel. 
C.  M.  Dozier. 

F.  M.  Downing. 
Michael  Doyles. 

G.  W.  Dunn. 
Peter  Flannigan. 
J.  W.  Fleming. 
Naris  Flint. 

J.  H.  H.  George. 
W.  B.  George. 
Thomas  Gee. 
H.  H.  Gray. 
J.  II.  Gray. 
J.  H.  Grillis. 
W.  J.  Grubbs. 
'J.  J.  Gully. 


W.  H.  Hamilton. 
J.  T.  Halbert. 
J.  A.  Hall. 

D.  C.  Harbison. 
J.  W.  Henderson. 
J.  R.  Hovis. 

B.  T.  Howell. 
Samuel  Howell. 
Solomon  Howell. 
J.  W.  Jamerson. 
John  Kelly. 
Michael  Kennedy. 

C.  G.  Key. 
Manley  Key. 
J.  H.  Locker. 
J.  J.  Maddox. 
N.  G.  Maddox. 
Leonard  Marburry. 
J.  A.  Meesber. 

J.  C.  Maroney. 
S.  F.  McArnm. 

McAllister. 

Henry  McDaiiiel. 
J.  Y.  McDaniel. 
J.  M.  McFerrin. 
E.  J.  Philips. 
A.  H.  Puckett. 

E.  P.  L.  Parr. 

F.  C.  S.  Parr. 
W.  J.  Raney. 
J.  F.  Saudlin. 
John  i^atterneld. 


218  THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


William  Simmons.  W.  T.  Vickers. 

Eli  Simmons.  A.  L.  Walker. 

Stephen  Smith.  Thomas  Warren. 

Lewis  Spray.  William  Watson. 

N.  P.  Steadman.  J.  M.  Weigart. 

W.  B.  Stewart.  H.  W.  Womack. 

John  Sullivan.  T.  N.  Womack. 

W.  S.  Thomas.  J.  K.  P.  Wallace. 

F.  M.  Thornton.  O.  Walker. 
J.  P.  Loon. 

,  PROMOTED. 

Lieut.  M.  M.  Bearden,  Captain,  1863.    J.  S.  Brown,  Captain,  1863. 
Corp'l  W.  C.  Bright,  Captain,  1864-5.    Norris  Flint,  Captain,  1862. 

KILLED. 

Dock  Anderson,  Murfreesboro.  W.  J.  Grubbs,  Murfreesboro. 

Capt.  M,  M.  Bearden,  Murfreesboro.  J.  A.  Hall,  Murfreesboro. 

Lieut.  T.  W.  Raney,  Kennesaw  Mt.  J.  W.  Henderson,  Murfreesboro. 

A.  C.  Beach,  Murfreesboro.  McAllister,  Murfreesboro. 

Capt.  J.  S.  Brown,  Resaca,  Ga.  Eli  Simmons,  Murfreesboro. 

J.  F.  Caughran.  Murfreesboro.  A.  L.  Walker,  Murfreesboro. 

Capt.  Norris  Flint,  Chickamauga.  H.  W.  Womack,  Murfreesboro. 

G.  W.  Dunn,  Murfreesboro.  O.  Walker,  Murfreesboro. 
T.  H.  Griffis,  Murfreesboro. 

WOUNDED. 

J.  M.  Byers,  Murfreesboro. 
DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

W.  J.  King,  unknown.  J.  W.  Jamison,  West  Virginia. 

J.  F.  Blankenship,  Atlanta,  Ga.  Manly  Key,  Chattanooga. 

COMPANY  D. 

OFFICERS. 

Calvin  E.  Myers,  Captain.  A.  L.  Windle,  First  Sergeant. 

Columbus  Marchbanks,  Fir"gtLieuten-  C.  C.  Carr,  Second  Sergeant. 

ant.  Robert  Boles,  Third  Sergeant. 

W.  W.  Windle,  Second  Lieutenant.        J.  J.  Tompkins,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
W.  C.  Hickey,  Third  Lieutenant.          Robert  Cash,  First  Corporal. 

PRIVATES. 

Arkley  Allen.  J.  A.  Anderson. 

Benjamin  Allen.  Hamilton  Brown. 

John  D.  Anderson.  Mack  Brown. 

E.  L.  Armstrong.  Trib.  Bledsoe. 

Alex.  Armstrong.  James  Bilberry. 

Cross  Armstrong,  Harvey  Brown. 

Cull  Armstrong.  Martin  Bilberry. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


219 


John  Bell. 

Zeke  Long. 

Jeff  Boles. 

W.  B.  McCally. 

Porter  Christian. 

James  McKinney. 

John  Crabtree. 

Laurence  Morris. 

Charles  Callahan. 

William  Morris. 

J.  C.  Coleman. 

William  O'Neal. 

W.  M.  Copeland. 

John  Orsburn. 

Lee  Copeland. 

High  Patrick. 

John  Copeland. 

Robert  Philips. 

James  Cope. 

Samuel  Poteet. 

Reuben  Clark. 

*R»land  Quarles. 

Wash.  Car  mack. 

John  Quarles. 

Jack  Copeland. 

Thomas  Ray. 

George  Coake. 

Huston  Ray. 

J.  J.  Cullom. 

M.  V.  Richardson. 

Erasmus  E.  Cullom. 

A.  W.  Richardson. 

John  Callahan. 

Joseph  Richardson. 

S.  B.  Dillon. 

Mike  Speck. 

I>.  T.  Dillon. 

John  Speck. 

Wesley  Elum. 

Ben  Speck. 

James  Elum. 

Jack  Sells. 

J.  K.  P.  Eldridge. 

Nick  Stephens. 

S.  B.  Evans. 

Dade  Stephens. 

George  Finley. 

Miles  Stephens. 

George  France. 

Hilry  Smith. 

Ambrose  Grace. 

T.  P.  Staggs. 

J.  K.  P.  Gilliland. 

Thomas  Stewart. 

Allen  Gilliland. 

Wilburn  Stewart. 

Jack  Garrett. 

Pay  ton  Smith. 

J.  R.  Hancock. 

Elijah  Stephens. 

Van  Huddleston. 

William  Selby. 

Simon  Huddleston. 

Burton  Swift. 

Louis  Huddleston. 

James  Simpson. 

Frank  Harrison. 

Asa  Shoemaker. 

John  Hall. 

Jo.  Williams. 

John  Hickey. 

A.  R.  Wilson. 

Burrell  Jones. 

G.  W.  Warren. 

Cain  Jones. 

John  Wallace. 

A.  P.  Kines. 

William  Wallace. 

Ed.  Little. 

J.  J.  Cullom,  Capt.,  1862. 


Benjamin  Allen,  in  Cavalry. 
Simon  Huddleston,  in  Cavalry. 
Louis  Huddleston,  in  Cavalry. 
High  Patrick,  in  Cavalry. 
Nick  Stephens,  in  Cavalry. 


PROMOTED. 

E.  E.  Cullom,  Lieut.,  1862. 
KILLED. 

Miles  Stephens,  in  Cavalry. 
Robert  Philips,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Copeland,  in  Cavalry. 
Payton  Smith,  Clarksville,  Tenn. 
James  Cope,  Franklin,  Tenn. 


220 


THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


Ed.  Little,  Murfreesboro. 
Jack  Garrett,  in  Cavalry. 
Jack  Copeland,  in  Cavalry. 
Elijah  Stephens,  in  Cavalry. 
George  Fiuley,  Franklin,  Tenn. 
John  Bell,  Perryville,  Ky. 


Capt.  J.  J.  Culloni,  Kennesaw  Mount. 
Lieut.  E.  E.  Culloni,  Atlanta. 
Cross  Armstrong,  in  Cavalry. 
Cal.  Armstrong,  Cclina,  Tenn. 
Burrel  Jones,  South  Carolina,  1861. 
John  Ciillulian,  Murfreesboro. 


WOUNDED. 


William  O'Neal,  Perryville. 
John  Speck,  Perryville. 


Lee  Copeland,  Perryville. 

John  Hall,  3  wounds,  Murfreesboro. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 


John  Crabtree,  Virginia,  1801. 
Charles  Callahan,  Virginia,  1861. 
Samuel  Poteet,  Virginia,  1861. 
J.  K.  P.  Eldridge,  Homo,  1863. 
John  Quarles,  Warm  Spring*,  Vn. 


Reuben  Clark,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  1862. 
John  I).  Anderson,  Home,  1861. 
Harvey  Brown,  Burkesville,  Ky.,  1864. 
John  Hickey,  West  Va.,  1861. 
Burton  Swift,  Murfreesboro. 


COMPANY   G. 


OFFICERS. 


Geo.  W.  Higgins,  Captain. 
W.  C.  Griswell,  First  Lieutenant. 
David  Sullivan,  Second  Lieu  tenant. 
K.  S.  N.  Bobo,  Brevet  Second  Lieuten- 
ant. 

Jo.  G.  Carrigan,  Orderly  Sergeant. 
M.  C.  Shook,  Second  Sergeant. 

PKIV 

J.  K.  Ashley. 

Jesse  Armstrong. 

Thomas  Armstrong. 

William  Armstrong. 

Elias  Ashby. 

J.  R.  Brewer. 

J.  B.  Brown. 

J.  N.Bell. 

G.  W.  Borough. 

Jesse  Broadaway. 

A.  P.  Clift. 

John  Cunningham. 

C.  H.  Carrigan. 

W.  T.  Crenshaw. 

F.  M.  Colter. 

T.  H.  Curtis. 

Henry  Cummings. 

Jackson  Dollins. 

Milton  Dollins. 


T.  L.  Williamson  Third  Sergeant. 
Francis  Wells,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
M.  C.  Cotton,  First  Corporal. 
W.  B.  McKenzie,  Second  Corporal. 
M.  S.  Do! i ins,  Third  Corporal. 
T.  H.  Clark,  Fourth  Corporal. 


J.  G.  Epps. 
J.  N.  Epps. 
A.  C   Freeman. 
W.  J.  Freeman. 
R.  F.  Fox. 
J.  W.  Fin  cher. 
Win.  Fuller. 
W.  H.  Gibson. 
G.  A.  N.  Green. 
Alfred  Hale. 
G.  W.  Hale. 
W.  C.  Hall. 
Richard  Hall. 
C.  C.  Hall.  . 
L.  Harnby. 
H.  F.  Hudson. 
W.  B.  Hudson. 
J.  L.  Hudson. 
J.  B.  Headjicks. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


221 


J.  G.  Harrison. 
Joe  Hines. 
W.  H.  Ingle. 
James  Jolly. 
J.  D.  King. 
Jeft1.  King. 
J.  W.  Leonard. 
John  McKenzie. 
M.  !•'.  Moore. 
J.  F.  Moore. 
J.  A.  F.  Moore. 
Jnincs  McKenzie. 
J.  E.  Mills. 
Chas.  Miller. 
Amos  Morris. 
M.  F.  Pylant. 
James  Pearson. 
G.  A.  F.  Pylant, 
W.  D.  Prosser. 
J.  Reece. 
T.  J.  Rives. 
T.  J.  Robinson. 


KILLED. 


J.  B.  Shook. 
John  Sisk. 
G.  W.  Smith. 
Doake  Small. 
L.  P.  M.  Small. 
J.  W.  Sullivan. 
W.  M.  Smith. 
James  Steelinan. 
D.  Tucker  (Chaplain). 
Wm.  Thompson. 
*  David  Thompson. 
Patrick  Thompson. 
Isom  Wells. 
James  Wells. 
T.  J.  Wells. 
W.  L.  Waid. 
M.  J.  Wright. 
John  Willett. 
T.  A.  Yant. 
M.  P.  Yant. 
J.  L.  Yant. 


Joseph  Hudson,  Perryville,  Ky. 
Capt.  M.  C.  Shook,  Murfreeshoro. 
Meredith  Yant,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  L.  Yant,  Murfreesboro. 
Robert  F.  Fox,  Murfreesboro. 
Win.  Armstrong,  Murfreesboro. 
James  McKenzie,  Murfreesboro. 
Wesley  Wade,  Murfreesboro. 
John  G.  Epps,  Murfreesboro. 
Milton  Dollins,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Steelman,  Murfreesboro. 
Alfred  Hale,  Murfreesboro. 


Win.  Fuller,  Murfreesboro. 

Lemuel  Sma,ll,  Murfreesboro. 

Jas.  W.  Leonard,  Missionary  Ridge. 

J.  D.  Ingle,  Resaca,  Ga. 

Marion  F.  Pylant,  Resaca,  Ga. 

Jackson  Dollins,  Atlanta. 

J.  B.  Shook,  Atlanta. 

G.  A.  N.  Green,  Newnan,  Ga. 

Jas.  D.  King,  Franklin. 

Jas.  Wells,  Franklin. 

Doake  Small,  by  cars,  in  Georgia. 


COMPANY   H. 


OFFICERS. 


William  L.  Moore,  Captain. 
William  J.  Thrash,  First  Lieutenant. 
Thomas  Freeman,  Second  Lieutenant. 
W.  L.  Shoftner,  Third  Lieutenant. 
William  J.  Bonner,  First  Sergeant. 
John  W.  Sullivan,  Second  Sergeant. 
Albert  H.  Boon,  Third  Sergeant. 


John  T.  Reese,  Fourth  Sergeant.- 
Moses  B.  Shores,  Fifth  Sergeant. 
Wm.  H.  Robertson,  First  Corporal. 
Wm.  H.  Holman,  Second  Corporal. 
John  F.  Whittaker,  Third  Corporal. 
M.  L.  Mead,  Fourth  Corporal. 


222 


THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


Joseph  Broughton. 
James  C.  Bright. 
William  A.  Blackwell. 
John  E.  Blackwell. 
Thomas  Brown. 
H.  L.  W.  B.  Boon. 
Alexander  Brady. 
Robert  M.  Boaz. 
Wiley  H.  Carrigan. 
John  S.  Carrigan. 
Joseph  Call. 
James  C.  Clark. 
William  T.  Clark. 
Alsa  M.  Carter. 
Stephen  Cook. 
L.  W.  Davidson. 
M.  M.  Dean. 
James  H.  C.  Duff. 
George  D.  Daniel. 
John  Eslick. 
John  A.  Eaton. 
Isaac  V.  Forrister. 
Nathaniel  S.  Forrister. 
W.  M.  Franklin. 
L.  A.  Farrer. 
Thomas  H.  Freeman. 
Enoch  Glidewell. 
P.  H.  George. 
David  S.  George. 
Riley  Gattis. 
Isaac  V.  Gattis. 
George  W.  Gattis,  jr. 
William  B.  Hurst. 
James  C.  Hague. 
Eli  Honey. 
Junius  Honey. 
James  Hachel. 
Richard  G.  James. 
P.  M.  James. 
Stephen  Johnston. 
John  J.  King. 
George  C.  Logan. 
L.  B.  Leftwitch. 
Arch  H.  Lee. 
H.  D.  Lipscomb. 
W.  M.  Montgomery. 
W.  H.  Martin. 
Joseph  S.  Mooney. 
Alexander  A.  McAfee. 


PRIVATES. 


John  D.  McLean. 
Rufus  A.  Morehead. 
James  L.  Morehead. 
George  F.  Miller. 
Preston  Y.  Mitchell. 
E.  M.  Ousley. 
John  B.  Parker. 
Aaron  Parks. 
Joel  Parks. 
Elisha  T.  Parks. 
James  C.  Pitts. 
Joel  A.  Pitts. 
Patrick  A.  Raby. 
John  R.  Raby. 
Benj.  H.  Rives. 
John  C.  Raney. 
Robert  Reese. 
Calvin  Reunegar. 
William  Rennegar. 
William  A.  Rutledge. 
William  D.  Seals. 
James  S.  Seals. 
William  H.  Sebastian. 
William  L.  Shoftner. 
Chris.  C.  Shoftner. 
Newton  M.  Shoftner. 
G.  W.  Shellings. 
George  W.  Street. 
Asa  Street. 
Joseph  P.  Stacy. 
John  B.  Steagall. 
Robert  F.  Steagall. 
Joseph  Sullinger. 
John  D.  Tolley. 
John  B.  Thomasson. 
Daniel  J.  Waggoner. 
George  A.  Waggoner. 
George  W.  Waggoner. 
George  W.  Waggoner,  jr. 
Felix  M,  Waggoner. 
Daniel  N.  Waggoner. 
Marcus  D.  L.  Whittaker. 
L.  J.  Whittaker. 
Edward  D.  Whitman. 
James  W.  Whitman. 
J.  M.  D.  Wilson 
William  A.  Woodard. 
Elijah  W.  Yates. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


223 


RECRUITS. 


Green  B.  Ashby. 
Cullen  Bailey. 
Benjamin  Broughton. 
W.  N.  Bonner. 
Hirara  Beaver. 
Elisha  B.  Brown. 
Brittain  F.  Carrigan. 
Wilson  R.  Call. 

A.  B.  Carter. 
Willis  A.  Carter. 
W.  B.  Carter. 
John  P.  Cooley. 
D.  A.  Crane. 
John  W.  Cashion. 
James  Cashion. 
Madison  Copeland. 
W.  P.  Davidson. 
W.  R.  Duke. 
William  Eslick. 
Isaac  Evans. 

W.  R.  Evans. 
Aaron  Glidewell. 
George  W.  Gattis,  sr. 
W.  H.  Gattis. 
Elijah  L.  Hester. 
Andrew  J.  Hudlow. 
AVilliam  N.  Johnston. 
John  H.  Leftwitch. 

B.  D.  Morgan. 
George  W.  McAfee. 
Jacob  C.  Morgan. 
James  F.  Massey. 
John  F.  M.  Mills. 


Ellis  Mills. 
F.  M.  Meyers. 
James  W.  Mitchell. 
James  Marr. 
James  M.  Major. 
William  Norvall. 
Benjamin  J.  Noles. 
John  W.  Neela. 
John  Owens. 
W.  F.  Oliver. 
William  Panther. 
James  Pearson. 
E.  B.  Raby. 
J.  W.  Robertson. 
Samuel  Rowes. 
Joseph  M.  Sebastian. 
James  Sullenger. 
W.  A.  Sullenger. 
Samuel  C.  Strong. 
Henderson  Speck. 
W.  J.  Taylor. 
Nathaniel  Tucker. 
Francis  Tucker. 
George  H.  Waggoner. 
Felix  Waggoner. 
Henry  A.  Waggoner. 
Riley  Waggoner. 
Stephen  P.  Wiles. 
John  C.  Waid. 
W.  H.  Webb. 
John  Ward. 
Thomas  B.  Yeaters. 


PROMOTED. 


Lieut.  Granville  B.  Lester,  Assistant  John  D.  Tolley,  Ordinance  Serg't,  1861, 
Surgeon,  1861.  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant,  1862. 

Capt.  W.  L.  Moore,  Lieut.-col,  1861,  J.  D.  McLean,  2d  Lieut,,  1862. 

Col.,  1862.  J.  G.  Call,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 

Lieut,  W.  J.  Thrash,  Capt.,  1861.  M.  B.  Shores,  2d  Lieut.,  1862. 

Serg't  William  J.  Bonner,  3d  Lieut.,  John  Sullivan,  3d  Lieut.,  1863. 

1861.  George  W.  Street,  3d  Lieut.,  1864. 

William  A.  Rutledge,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 


KILLED. 


Capt.  Wm.  J.  Thrash,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Sullinger,  Murfreesboro. 
Joseph  Sullenger,  Murfreesboro. 


Benjamin  Morgan,  Murfreesboro. 
Frank  Johnson,  Murfreesboro. 
George  Steelman,  Murfreesboro. 


224 


THE  EIGHTH  REGIMENT 


Newt  Shoftner,  Murfreesboro.  Joseph  Stacy,  Franklin. 

Lieut.  J.  G.  Call,  Resaca.  Lieut.  George  Street,  Franklin. 

W.  L.  Davidson,  Chickamauga.  P.  Y.  Mitchell,  Franklin. 

George  Davidson,  Kennesaw  Mount-  Alexander  Brady,  Franklin. 

ain.  John  Reese,  Franklin. 

William  Martin,  Franklin.  Benjamin  Knowles,  Murfreesboro. 


WOUNDED. 


L.  A.  Farrar,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  J.  Taylor,  Murfreesboro. 
James  Hague,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut.  M.  B.  Shores,  Murfreesboro. 
M.  D.  L.  Whittaker,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Whittaker,  Murfreesboro. 
N.  S.  Forrester,  Murfreesboro. 
F.  R.  Moore,  Murfreesboro. 
W.  T.  Clark,  Murfreesboro. 
J.  E.  Waggoner,  Murfreesboro. 
Benjamin  Parker,  Murfreesboro. 
Enoch  Glidcwell,  Murfreesboro. 
John  Reese,  Murfreesboro. 
Lieut.  John  Sullivan,  Murfreesboro. 
Collins  Bright,  Murfreesboro. 
Lewis  Davidson,  Murfreesboro. 
Berry  Leftwitch,  Murfreesboro. 
Brittain  Carrigan,  Murfreesboro. 
B.  A.  Raby.,  Perryville. 


Lieut  John  D.  Tolly,  Perryville. 
H.  L.  W.  Boon,  Perryville. 
Lucus  Whittaker,  Resaca,  Ga. 
Alexander  Crane,  Chickamauga. 
Stephen  Johnson,  Chickamauga. 
George  Street,  Chickamauga. 
Aaron  Parks,  Chickamauga. 
John  Whittaker,  -Adairsville,  Ga. 
Lieut.  M.  B.  Shores,  Adairsville,  Ga. 
M.  M.  Dean  Adairsville,  (la. 
Stephen  Johnson,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
William  Martin,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
M.  M.  Dean,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
P.  Logan,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 
J.  D.  Wilson,  Franklin,  Tenn. 
P.  Logan,  Franklin,  Tenn. 
Jeff  King,  Franklin,  Tenn. 
Wilson  Call,  Franklin,  Tenn. 
John  Raby,  Franklin,  Tenn. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

J.  J.  Gaddis,  Knoxville,  1861.  Rufus  Morehead,  Corinth,  Miss.,  1861. 

James  Morehead,  Warm  Springs,  Va.    J.  V.  Oliver,  Corinth,  Miss.,  1861. 
J.  A.  Eaton,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 


COMPANY  K. 


OFFICERS. 


William  Gore,  Captain. 

A.  B.  Botts,  First  Lieutenant. 

James  Eaton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  W.  W.  Brooks,  Third  Lieutenant. 

D.  M.  Haile,  First  Sergeant. 

T.  G.  Settle,  Second  Sergeant. 

L.  M.  Gipson,  Third  Sergeant. 


J.  P.  Abner. 
J.  M.  Allard. 
Z.  H.  Bryant. 
John  M.  Burriss. 


B.  P.  McClelland,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
-T.  C.  Settle,  Fifth  Sergeant, 
John  Van  Hooser,  First  Corporal. 
S.  L.  Hall,  Second  Corporal. 
G.  M.  Ray,  Third  Corporal. 
Joseph  Lipsheets,  Fourth  Corporal. 
N.  B.  Young,  Musician. 


PRIVATES. 


E.  M.  Brown. 
G.  W.  Brown. 
J.  L.  Brown. 
J.  H.  Brown. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


225 


William  Buchaiinon. 

R.  A.  Cox. 

Daniel  Cox. 

B.  F.  Clark. 

Jacob  Case. 

William  Case. 

H.  Carter. 

W.  S.  Cassety. 

L.  M.  Cason. 

J.  J.  Coake. 

John  De  Jarnett. 

Laii  Dudney. 

Len  Darwin. 

A.  G.  Den  ton. 
W.  G.  De  Shields. 
William  Engle. 
W.  A.  Fax. 
Kendrix  Fax. 

B.  B.  Fax. 
B.  A.  Fax. 
W.  B.  Fax. 
Suel  Gordon. 
Samuel  Gordon. 
R.  H.  Games. 

K.  J.  C.  Gailbreath. 

W.  A.  Gailbreath. 

Matthew  Gipson. 

J.  R.  Harrison. 

George  Harrison. 

A.  B.  Haile. 

AV  T.  Haile. 

I.  s.  Haile. 

A.  (,.  HaiK>. 

S.  L.  Hall. 

Jack  Hambert. 

Peter  Huff. 

H.  C.  Hnffhines. 

Sam  E.  Hare. 

W.  H.  Jarman. 

William  Sadler,  Captain,  1862. 


William  Keith. 
J  M.  Keith. 
O.  Kirby. 
L.  Law. 
Thad  Law. 
Abdelenimus  Law. 

B.  H.  Lawson. 
J.  M.  Morgan. 
P.  F.  Morgan. 
H.  T.  Minor. 
W.  C.  Minor. 
W.  J.  Mansel. 
J.  B.  Mansel. 
.T.  W.  Meaders. 
J.  F.  McClure. 
Win.  M.  Poston. 
T.  J.  Poston. 

C.  C.  Price. 
Warren  Pharris. 
A.  D.  Pleasants. 
John  S.  Quarles. 
L.  W.  Rawley. 
P.  J.  Rawley. 
Matthew  Rogers. 
Wade  Ransom. 
H.  H.  Roberts. 
Win.  Sadler. 

A.  Stafford. 
J.  C.  Smallin. 
W.  S.  Stone. 
C.  X.  Tinsley. 
John  Whittaker. 
George  Whittaker. 
Bish.  Walker. 
G.  S.  Wheeler. 
T.  J.  Williams. 
L.  Wasbburn. 
Zeb.  M.  Young. 


PROMOTED. 

John  S.  Quarles,  Captain,  1863. 
KILLED. 


Abdelenimus  Law,  Knoxville  (by  ears)  P.  F.  Morgan,  Atlanta,  July  22, 1864. 

Capt.  Win.  Sadler,  Murfreesboro.          S.  L.  Hall,  Murfreesboro. 

Lieut.  D.  M.  Haile,  Murfreesboro. 

R.  H.  Gaines,  Murfreesboro. 

Jack  Hambert,  Murfreesboro. 

William  M.  Poston,  Murfreesboro. 


Joseph  Lipsheets,  Franklin. 
J.  L.  Brown,  Chickamauga. 
A.  G.  Deuton,  Murfreesboro. 
R.  H.  Gaines,  Murfreesboro. 


15 


226  THE  FIFTH  REGIMENT 

B.  J.  Gailbreath,  Murfreesboro.  T.  J.  Poston,  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864. 

J.  M.  Keith,  Port  Royal,  S.  C.  H.  H.  Roberts,  Chirkamauga. 

J.  F.  McClure,  Franklin. 

WOUNDED. 
Capt.  John  S  Quarles,  Murfreesboro. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

William  Buchanan,  in  prison.  W.  A.  Gailbreath,  Tupelo,  Miss.,  1862. 

H.  Carter,  West  Virginia,  1861.  Bish.  Walker,  Tupelo,  Miss.,  1862. 

Lan  Budney.  P.  J.  Rawley,  West  Virginia,  1861. 


THE    FIFTH    REGIMENT   TENNESSEE   VOL- 
UNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  subsequently  known  as  the  Thir- 
ty-fifth Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  and  was  com- 
posed of  volunteer  companies  from  the  counties  of 
Warren,  Cannon,  Grundy,  Sequatchie,  Bledsoe,  and 
Van  Buren,  viz. : 

Company  A,  Grundy  county,  Captain  Hannah,  commanding. 

Company  B,  Warren  county,  Captain  John  W.  Towles,  com- 
manding. 

Company  C,  Warren  county,  Captain  Charles  M.  Forrest,  com- 
manding. 

Company  D,  Warren  county,  Captain  W.  T.  Christian,  com- 
manding. 

Company  E,  Van  Buren  county,  Captain  W.  Burrell  Cummings, 
commanding. 

Company  F,  Warren  county,  Captain  Ed  J.  Wood,  commanding. 

Company  G,  Cannon  county,  Captain  James  H.  Woods,  com- 
manding. 

Company  H,  Warren  county,  Captain  John  Macon,  commanding. 

Company  I,  Bledsoe  county,  Captain  L.  L.  Dearman,  command- 
ing. 

Company  K,  Sequatchie  county,  Captain  W.  D.  Stewart,  com- 
manding. 

The  companies  were  organized   into  a  regiment  at 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


227 


Camp  Smavtt,  near  McMinnville,  Term.,  September  6, 
1861,  by  the  election  of  Ben  J.  Hill  colonel  command- 
ing. The  field  and  staff'  officers  of  the  regiment  were 
as  follows: 


COLONEL    BEN   J.    HILL. 

BEN  J.  HILL,  Colonel; 

JOHN  T.  SPURLOCK,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

JOSEPH  BROWN,  Major  and  Adjutant; 

Dr.  W.  C.  BARNS,  Surgeon; 

Dr.  J.  W.  WOOTEN,  Assistant  Surgeon; 

Dr.  J.  M.  BELL,  Assistant  Surgeon; 


228  THE  FIFTH  REGIMENT 

Captain  O.  F.  BREWSTER,  Quartermaster; 

Captain  JAMES  S.  GRIBBLE,  Commissary; 
Rev.  DAVID  P.  RITCHEY,  Chaplain. 

The  regiment,  after  organizing,  remained  in  camp  of 
instruction  at  Camp  Smartt  for  three  weeks,  when  it 
was  sent  to  Camp  Tfousclale,  thence  to  Bowling^jreen, 
Ky.,  and  placed  in  Brigadier-general  P.  R.  Cleburne's 
brigade,  of  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston's  army. 
Remaining  at  Bowling  Green  until  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson,  it  accompanied  its  brigade  in  the  evacuation 
of  Tennessee,  and  participated  in  the  great  battle  of 
Shiloh  on  April  6  and  7,  1862. 

Colonel  B.  J.  Hill,  the  commander  of  the  Fifth  Reg- 
iment Tennessee  Volunteers,  was  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, and  resided  at  McMinnville  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  between  the  States  in  1861.  Previous  to  the 
war  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Mc- 
Minnville, where  he  had  resided  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1855,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
and  represented  his  constituents  with  characteristic 
ability.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  he  es- 
poused the  cause  of  his  Southern  brethren,  and  en- 
listed in  the  Fifth  (afterward  the  Thirty-fifth)  Regi- 
ment Tennessee  Volunteers  in  September,  1861,  and 
was  chosen  its  commander  by  the  unanimous  voice  of 
its  members. 

As  a  citizen,  he  was  respected  and  honored,  by  all 
who  knew  him,  for  his  enterprising  spirit  and  for  his 
sterling  integrity.  He  was  steadfast  and  immovable 
in  his  determinations,  and  was  kind  and  generous  to  a 
fault.  As  a  soldier,  he  possessed  all  the  requisite  qual- 
ities of  a  commander.  He  possessed  a  degree  of  ob- 
stinate determination  that  baffled  opposition  and  recog- 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  229 

nized  no  opposing  obstacles.  Infusing  this  spirit  into 
the  soldiers  of  his  command  to  a  remarkable  degree, 
his  regiment  acted  a  distinguished  part  in  the  various 
battles  of  the  Western  Army,  beginning  at  Shiloh.  In 
this  battle,  Colonel  Hill  led  his  regiment  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight,  and  for  his  gallantry,  and  the  gallantry  of 
his  regiment,  he  was  mentioned  in  honorable  and  com- 
mendatory terms  by  General  Cleburne,  whose  high 
appreciation  and  firm  friendship  seemed  to  have  its 
origin  on  this  occasion,  and  ever  afterward  Colonel 
Hill  was  a  favorite  of  his  brigade  commander. 

In  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  Fifth  Tennessee  Regi- 
ment carried  into  the  engagement  369  guns.  The  regi- 
ment suffered  severely  in  the  engagements  of  each 
day.  The  brigade  (Cleburne's)  to  which  the  regiment 
belonged  numbered  2,750  men,  out  of  which  1,000 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  32  were  missing.  The 
Fifth  Tennessee  captured  about  100  prisoners  during 
the  two  days'  engagement. 

The  following  is  the  official  report  of  Colonel  Hill, 
of  the  part  the  Fifth  Tennessee  bore  in  the  battle: 

REPORT  OF  COLONEL  BEN    J.  HILL,  FIFTH  TEN- 
NESSEE INFANTRY. 

IlEAD-qUARTERS  FlFTH  TENNESSEE  REGIMENT,       } 

CAMP  NEAR  CORINTH,  Miss.,  April  15,  1862. f 

Sir: — In  compliance  with  your  request,  I  have  the  honor  to 
make  the  following  report,  showing  the  positions  occupied  by  my 
command  during  the  eventful  scenes  of  the  6th  and  7th  instant, 
at  Shiloh,  in  Hardin  county,  Tenn.: 

My  regiment  was  detailed  to  do  picket  duty  on  Saturday 
night,  the  5th,  and  was  thrown  out  within  three  or  four  miles  of 
the  enemy's  encampment.  At  davlight  Sunday  morning  we 
were  ordered  to  advance,  with  the  balance  of  your  brigade,  the 
Sixth  Mississippi,  Colonel  Thornton,  on  my  right,  and  the  Twen- 
ty-fourth Tennessee,  Lieutenant-colonel  Peebles,  on  my  left. 


230  THE  FIFTH   REGIMENT 

We  advanced  some  three  miles,  when  our  pickets  commenced  a 
sharp  and  lively  skirmish.  We  continued  to  advance  and  drove 
them  before  us  to  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  Federal  en- 
campment, when  they  opened  a  terrible  fire  upon  our  column. 
A  deep  ravine,  full  of  green  briers  and  grape-vines,  separated  us 
from  Colonel  Thornton's  regiment.  My  right  was  exposed  to  a 
severe  flank  fire  from  a  battery  and  from  musketry  and  other 
small  arms.  We  were  at  the  foot  of  a  long  hill,  upon  which  the 
enemy  were  hidden.  Captain  Hannah,  Company  A,  and  several 
others  were  killed  at  this  placevand  many  wounded. 

The  Fifteenth  Arkansas,  Lieutenant-colonel  Patton,  was  in 
advance  of  us,  and  deployed  as  skirmishers,  but  was  soon  called 
in  to  sustain  the  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee  on  the  left,  which  it 
performed  gallantlv  and  promptly. 

The  firing  was  constant  and  continuous  for  half  or  three  quar- 
ters of  an  hour,  when  one  of  the  aids  of  General  Beauregard 
came  to  me  and  said  that  the  battery  on  the  right  must  be  charged 
and  silenced  at  all  hazards.  I  gave"  the  word  and  my  brave  boys 
promptly  responded  to  it.  We  charged,  dispersed  the  enemy, 
and  silenced  the  battery.  As  the  enemv  retreated  mv  marksmen 
had  better  opportunity  for  trying  their  skill,  and  well  did  they 
improve  it,  as  was  proven  by  the  number  of  the  enemy  who  there 
fell.  We  continued  on  at  double-quick  for  near  a  mile,  crossing 
their  first  encampment,  and  formed  a  line  of  battle  at  the  foot  of 
the  next  hill. 

At  this  time  the  Twenty-third  Tenneseee,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Neill,  and  the  Sixth  Mississippi,  Colonel  Thornton,  constituting 
the  right  wing  of  your  brigade,  getting  separated,  you  had  to  go 
to  their  aid. 

I  was  then  directed,  as  senior  colonel,  to  take  command  of  all 
the  troops  on  my  left  by  one  of  General  Beauregard's  staff,  which 
I  did,  and  formed  them  in  line  of  battle  to  keep  back  the  enemy's 
right  wing.  Then  with  two  Louisiana  regiments  on  the  left  of 
your  brigade,  the  Texas  Rangers  on  the  extreme  left,  on  Owl 
Creek,  a  battery  in  our  rear,  the  Louisiana  cavalry  as  pickets 
and  the  Fifteenth  Arkansas,  Lieutenant-colonel  Patton,  as  skir- 
mishers, we  advanced  at  once,  driving  the  extreme  right  of  the 
enemy  for  at  least  a  mile  before  us.  Thev  halted  at  their  third 
encampment  and  gave  us  a  stubborn  fight.  The  Fourth  Ken- 
tucky and  a  battalion  of  Alabama  troops  were  here,  on  our 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  231 

right,  sheltered  under  the  brow  of  a  hill.  They  had  been  giving 
the  enemy  a  hot  fire,  but  ceased  as  we  came  up.  My  regiment 
then  opened  a  terrible  fire  upon  the  enemy,  and  kept  it  up  alone 
tor  a  short  time,  when  the  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee  joined  with 
us  in  firing  upon  them.  Colonel  Freeman,  commanding  a  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  with  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  then  moved  rapidly 
to  the  left,  and  opened  fire  upon  their  right  flank.  This,  in  con- 
junction with  our  fire  in  front,  told  with  terrible  effect,  and  they 
retreated,  leaving  many  of  their  dead  and  wounded  behind  them. 
We  pursued  them  and  had  just  formed  on  the  fourth  hill,  and  in 
sight  of  their  fourth  encampment,  when  you  returned  to  cheer 
us  with  your  presence  and  to  supply  us  with  ammunition. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  and  during  the  next  day,  Monday 
we  fought  under  your  immediate  command.  It  is  unnecessary 
for  me  to  enumerate  and  recite  the  many  charges  and  the  many 
incidents  that  occurred  on  Monday,  as  you  were  in  command 
and  witnessed  them  all. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  my  men,  though  inex- 
perienced, fought  well  and  bravely,  and  never  failed  to  charge,  or 
rally,  when  I  commanded  them  to  do  so.  As  far  as  my  observa- 
tion went,  all  Jhe  Tennessee  troops  fought  well.  So  it  was  with 
the  Arkansas  troops,  the  Mississippi,  the  Kentucky,  and  the  Ala- 
bama troops  on  the  left.  All  of  them  fought  nobly  and  gallantly 
and  against  great  odds.  My  regiment  captured  about  one  hun- 
dred prisoners  during  the  two  davs'  fighting. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

BEX  J.  HILL. 
Colo/id  Co  in  nut  tiding'  fifth    Tennessee  ffetflinent^  Prov'l  Army. 

Brigadier-general    P.    R.    CLEBURXE,    Commanding    Second 
Brigade. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FIFTH  TEXXESSEE  REGIMENT.  J 

PROVISIONAL  ARMY. 
CAMP  HILL,  Miss..  April  25,  1862.     ) 

Sir: — In  obedience  to  Special  Orders,  No,  — .  of  date  the  2ist 
inst..  in  relation  to  the  number  of  men  of  this  regiment  engaged 
in  the  battles  at  Shiloh  on  the  6th  and  -th  inst..  I  have  to  report 
as  follows,  to  wit: 


232  THE  FIFTH  REGIMENT 

Number  detailed  as  infirmary  or  hospital  corps jy 

Number  detailed  to  go  with  artillerv 6 

Number  detailed  to  go  with  sappers  and  miners i 

Number  detailed  as  wagon-guard t 3 

Number  detailed  to  guard  ammunition 2 

~p*  — 

Total  detailed 41 

Number  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  engaged..  328 

Number  of  company  officers  (commissioned) 33 

Number  of  field  officers 3 

Number  of  staff  officers ^ 

Total  engaged 369 

In  reply  to  that  portion  of  the  ordei  which  refers  to  the  indi- 
vidual action  of  the  officers  and  men  of  this  regiment  on  the 
battle-field  of  Shiloh,  I  have  to  say,  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
regiment  fought  well  and  acted  with  great  coolness  and  bravery. 
Considering  their  inexperience,  such  was  the  conduct  of  most  of 
them  on  the  field. 

In  Captain  Forrest's  company  (C),  private  Samuel  Evans 
displayed  great  coolness  and  courage.  After  being  severely 
wounded,  the  ball  passing  through  the  cheeks,  he  refused  to  go 
to  the  rear,  but  remained  and  fought  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  cheering  on  the  men  and  loading  and  shooting  as  fast  as  he 
could. 

In  Company  B.  commanded  by  Lieutenant  B.  II.  Womack. 
privates  John  D.  Smith,  Douglas  Briers,  and  J.  T.  Pennington  are 
mentioned  as  having  distinguished  themselves  by  their  bravery 
and  daring. 

In  Company  D,  commanded  bv  Lieutenant  R.  C.  Smartt.  pri- 
vate John  Roberts,  a  very  young  soldier,  behaved  with  the  great- 
est coolness  and  bravery  throughout  the  whole  action.  He  was 
frequently  in  advance  of  his  company,  was  knocked  down  twice 
by  spent  balls,  and  his  gun  shattered  to  pieces.  He  is  but  fifteen 
years  old,  but  displayed  the  coolness  and  courage  of  a  veteran. 

In  Company  F.  Captain  Edward  J.  Wood,  Lieutenant  C.  C. 
Brewer  is  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  for  cool  bravery  and 
gallant  bearing.  Following  the  lead  and  imitating  the  example 
of  his  captain,  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  he  was  ever  at 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  233 

the  head  of  the  men,  his  gallant  captain  only  in  advance,  cheer- 
ing them  on  to  the  conflict,  and  ever  and  anon  dropping  one  of 
the  Yankees  as  his  eye  would  chance  to  light  upon  him.  Pri- 
vates Abe  Boren  and  Isaac  L.  Ray,  of  the  same  company,  also 
greatly  distinguished  themselves,  and  are  spoken  of  in  the  high- 
est terms  by  their  comrades  and  their  captain. 

Lieutenant  George  S.  Deakins,  of  Captain  W.  D.   Stewart's   ' 
company  (K),  was  also  conspicuous  throughout  the  engagament 
for  coolness  and  gallant  behavior 

It  is,  no  doubt,  invidious  to  single  out  instances-  of  this  kind. 
Officers  and  men  all  did  well,  considering  that  thev  were  raw  and 
inexperienced,  and  they  were  out  Saturday  night,  the  whole  reg- 
iment, on  picket  dutv,  and  consequently  unrefreshed. 

Respectfully  submitted,  B.  J.   HILL, 

Colonel  Commanding  Fifth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Proi'l  Armv. 

Major  POWHATTAX   ELLIS,  jr.,   Assistant  Adjutant-general, 
Second  Brigade.  Third  Armv  Corps.   • 

The  Fifth  Tennessee  remained  with  the  army  during 
the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  on  May  28,  1862.  was  on  the 
picket  lines  when  Halleck  was  pressing  the  Confed- 
erate lines  so  severely  on  the  eve  of  the  evacuation  of 
Corinth.  Being  ordered  by  General  Cleburne,  on  the 
morning  of  May  28,  to  storm  the  Federal  position  at 
Shelton  Hill,  in  front  of  Corinth,  Colonel  Hill  charged 
with  his  gallant  regiment  into  a  perfect  gauntlet  of 
Federal  columns  which  were  concealed  behind  a  hedge 
of  plum  bushes;  and  before  he  was  aware  of  the  fact 
that  the  regiments  which  were  ordered  to  support  him 
on  his  flanks  had  failed  to  advance  to  the  charge,  he 
rushed  to  the  very  muzzles  of  the  enemy's  cannon  and 
dislodged  the  enemy  from  their  position,  yet  the  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry  was  so  severe  in  his  front 
and  on  his  flanks,  that  he  was  forced  to  fall  back  to  his 
original  position  immediately  after  the  accomplishment 
of  one  of  the  most  daring  and  gallant  achievements  of 
the  war.  For  this  heroic  act,  Colonel  Hill  and  his 


234  THE  FIFTH  REGIMENT 

regiment  were  complimented  by  General  Beauregard 
in  general  orders  read  to  the  troops  of  the  entire  army. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  the  regiment  ac- 
companied its  brigade  in  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
fought  bravely  in  the  battles  of  Richmond  and  Perry  - 
ville.  At  Murfreesboro  and  Chickamauga  it  sustained 
the  exalted  reputation  it  had  so  justly  won  on  all 
former  battle-fields. 

When  the  Confederate  forces  fell  back  to  Dalton  in 
1863,  Colonel  Hill  was  made  provost-marshal-general 
of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  by  order  of  General  Joseph 
E.Johnston.  In  this  capacity  Colonel  Hill  served  the 
Confederacy  until  January,  1865,  when  he  was  com- 
missioned a  brigadier-general,  and  assigned  to  duty  in 
the  command  of  cavalry.  In  this  capacity  he  operated 
principally  in  North  Alabama  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  surrendered  his  command  at  Chatta- 
nooga to  the  Federal  authorities.  Colonel  Hill  always 
claimed  that  his  was  the  last  command  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi  to  surrender  to  the  Federal  au- 
thorities. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  General  Hill  returned  to  his. 
home  at  McMinnville,  and  found  that  his  home  and 
his  property  had  suffered  greatly  from  the  ravages  of 
war.  Gathering  up  the  fragments  of  a  shattered  fort- 
une, he  adjusted  his  liabilities.  an.d,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  he  again  entered  the  mercantile  business 
in  his  native  town.  In  a  few  years  he  closed  out  his 
business  and  entered  the  profession  of  law,  in  which 
capacity  he  acted  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  his  health  began 
to  fail.  The  hardships,  the  exposure,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  a  four  years'  war  had  told  severely  upon  his 
nervous  system.  He  had  led  his  regiment  in  forty-two 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  235 

battles  and  skirmishes,  and  during  the  whole  period  of 
his  military  service  missed  but  a  few  days  from  duty. 
After  an  active,  brilliant,  and  useful  life,  he  died  at  his 
home  in  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  January  5,  1880,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years.  Thus  closed  the  life  and  labors 
of  Benjamin  Jefferson  Hill,  the  commander  of  the 
Fifth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  afterward  brig- 
adier-general of  cavalry,  in  the  service  of  the  Confed- 
erate States. 


CARNES'S  BATTERY. 

Carnes's  battery  was  assigned  to  General  D.  S.  Don- 
elson's  brigade  shortly  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in 
April,  1862,  and  continued  a  part  of  this  brigade  after 
the  promomotion  of  General  Donelson  to  the  position 
of  major-general,  when  the  brigade  was  commanded 
by  Colonel  John  H.  Savage,  temporarily,  and  perma- 
nently by  Colonel  Marcus  J.  Wright,  who  was  made  a 
brigadier-general  about  this  time.  This  battery  was 
with  the  brigade  in  all  the  engagements  from  Corinth 
to  Chickamauga,  and  the  warmest  feelings  of  amity 
existed  between  it  and  the  officers  and  men  of  the  in- 
fantry of  the  brigade,  especially  the  Eighth  and  Six- 
teenth Tennessee.  Captain  Carnes,  the  commander  of 
this  battery,  always  told  his  brigade  commander  that 
he  was  never  uneasy  about  his  front,  and  wanted  no 
troops  in  his  rear  to  be  killed  by  shells  thrown  at  his 
guns;  if  he  would  place  the  Eighth  and  Sixteenth 
Tennessee  on  either  side  of  his  battery  he  would  have 
no  uneasiness  about  being  sustained  on  the  flanks. 
This  battery  did  a  considerable  amount  of  desperate 
fighting  at  close  quarters,  and  was  generally  supported 
by  the  Eighth  and  Sixteenth  Tennessee.  In  every  in- 


236  CARNES'S    BATTERY 

stance  these  were  the  regiments  of  the  bridgade  whieh 
the  battery  always  preferred,  and  the  brigade  com- 
mander always  respected  this  preference  by  a  compli- 
ance with  the  wishes  of  the  captain  whenever  it?  was 
practicable  to  do  so.  As  Captain  Carnes  operated  his 
guns  mostly  at  close  quarters  with  the  enemy,  he  al- 
ways threw  a  great  deal  of  canister  shot  into  their 
ranks,  which  had  the  effect  to  demoralize  and  often 
stampede  the  enemy  in  his  front.  The  captain  having 
proved  the  efficacy  of  canister  in  large  quantities  while 
at  close  quarters,  he  always  kept  an  extra  supply  on 
hand  and  dealt  it  out  lavishly  upon  the  enemy  to  his 
great  consternation.  This  policy  greatly  pleased  the 
chief  of  artillery  of  Bragg's  army,  old  Colonel  Ola- 
dowski,  who  became  a  firm  and  fast  friend  to  Captain 
Carnes,  whom  he  always  jokingly  called  his  "  canister- 
shot  "  captain. 

As  Carnes's  battery  was  with  Donelson's  brigade 
during  the  greater  portion  of  the  war  after  the  battle 
of  Shiloh,  and  it  was  recruited  from  time  to  time  from 
the  ranks  of  the  Eighth,  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty- 
eighth,  Thirty-eighth,  and  Fifty-first  Tennessee  Regi- 
ments, a  few  items  of  its  history  will  be  given,  together 
with  a  history  of  its  commander,  Captain  W.  W. 
Carnes. 

The  battery  was  organized  by  Captain  W.  II.  Jack- 
son (afterward  General  Jackson  of  the  cavalry). 
The  nucleus  of  this  battery  was  a  few  German  mem- 
bers, and  the  guns  of  the  "'Steuben  Artillery"  of 
Memphis,  before  the  war.  The  men  were  enlisted  as 
"  regulars,"  and  taken  from  various  places,  so  that 
scarcely  ten  men  were  from  the  same  county,  and  they 
were  always  kept  under  the  discipline  and  rules  of  the 
regular  service. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


237 


At  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Captain  Jackson  was 
mounted  and  afterward  promoted  to  colonel,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  Seventh  Tennessee  Cavalry,  and 
was  subsequently  made  a  brigadier-general. 


CAPTAIN   W.   \V.    CARXES. 

When  Captain  Jackson  was  promoted,  W.W.  Carnes 
was  made  captain  of  the  battery.  Captain  Jackson, 
who  was  now  colonel  and  afterward  brigadier-general 
of  cavalry,  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  was 
lieutenant  in  the  First  Mounted  Rifles  till  the  war  com- 
menced. 


238  CARNES'S    BATTERY 

Captain  W.  W.  Carnes  was  a  young  man  of  excel- 
lent literary  and  military  attainments.  He  was  in  the 
graduating  class  at  the  United  States  Naval  Academy 
when  the  war  commenced,  and  at  the  time  he  was 
jnade  captain  of  this  battery  he  was  only  twenty  years 
old,  and  was  beyond  a  doubt  the  youngest  captain  of 
artillery  in  the  Confederate  States  Army.  When  as- 
signed to  DonelsonV  brigade  the  officers  of  the  bat- 
tery were  as  follows: 

W.  W.  CARXES,  Captain; 

L.  G.  MARSHALL,  First  Lieutenant; 

LEWIS  BOND,  First  Lieutenant; 

R.  E.  FOOTE,  Second  Lieutenant; 

JAMES  M.  COCKRILL,  Second"  Lieutenant. 

Milton  Brown,  jr.,  was  for  a  while  attached  to  the 
battery  as  supernumerary  second  lieutenant,  but  was 
subsequently  assigned  to  duty  elsewhere. 

The  battery  was  composed  of  six  guns,  consisting  of 
four  six-pounders  and  two  twelve-pound  howitzers, 
while  under  Captain  Jackson,  and  till  after  the  battle 
of  Shiloh,  when  all  eight-gun  batteries  were  reduced  to 
four  guns.  This  left  a  second  lieutenant  more  than  was 
needed,  and  Lieutenant  Foote  was  assigned  to  duty 
elsewhere.  About  this  time  Carnes's  battery  was  as- 
signed to  Donelson's  brigade  at  Corinth.  Its  officers 
were  then  as  follows: 

W.  \V.  CARNES,  Captain; 

L.  G.  MARSHALL,  First  Lieutenant; 

LEWIS  BOND,  First  Lieutenant; 

JAMES  M.  COCKRILL,  Second  Lieutenant. 

As  above  stated,  Captain  Carnes  was  educated  at 
the  United  States  Naval  Academy.  Lieutenant  L.  G. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  239 

Marshall,  who  was  the  oldest  officer  in  the  battery, 
was  a  man  of  very  superior  education,  was  well  known 
as  a  man  of  letters,  and  was  connected  writh  a  leading 
Memphis  paper  when  the  war  commenced. 

Lieutenant  Lewis  Bond  was  a  citizen  of  Browns- 
ville, and  a  recent  graduate  of  Harvard  University. 

Lieutenant  J.  M.  Cockrill  wras  from  Nashville,  and  a 
son  of  Sterling  Cockrill  of  that  city. 

These  officers  remained  with  the  battery  until  after 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  The  only  change  in  the 
officers  of  the  battery  up  to  this  time  was  the  promo- 
tion of  Sergeant  A.  Van  Vleck  to  the  position  of  sec- 
ond lieutenant  upon  the  recommendation  of  his  com- 
manding officer  for  good  conduct  upon  the  field.  Lieu- 
tenant Bond  was  assigned  to  General  Jackson's  cavalry 
command  as  ordnance  officer.  Lieutenant  A.  Van 
Vleck  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  had  been  in  the 
South  about  nine  years  when  the  w^ar  commenced. 
He  joined  this  battery  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
and  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Tracy  City,  Tennessee. 
He  proved  a  good  and  faithful  soldier  in  every  position 
he  filled  in  the  service.  He  fell  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga. 

The  first  active  service  in  which  this  battery  partici- 
pated on  the  field,  after  its  assignment  to  Donelson's 
brigade,  was  performed  at  Perryville,  Kentucky,  Oc- 
tober 8,  1862.  Being  engaged  in  a  heavy  artillery  duel 
in  the  forenoon  in  front  of  General  Wood's  command, 
the  battery  was  considerably  cut  up,  and  Captain 
Carnes  was  ordered  to  refit  and  await  orders.  While 
thus  awaiting  orders,  the  scene  of  operations  began  to 
rapidly  change  to  the  Confederate  right  wing.  Folk's 
corps  was  hurried  rapidly  down  the  Chaplin  Creek 
to  the  right  of  Perryville,  and  soon  became  furiously 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  241 

engaged  in  an  attack  upon  the  whole  Federal  left  wing. 
Proceeding  to  the  scene  of  operations,  Captain  Carnes 
found  General  Cheatham,  who  told  him  there  was  no 
place  where  he  could  be  put  into  action  at  that  time, 
but  to  await  orders.  The  battery  had  already  been  en- 
gaged in  a  lively  engagement,  but  the  position  on  the 
right  where  the  brigade  was  engaged  was  inaccessible 
to  artillery,  as  the  Federals  were  posted  near  the  brow 
of  a  bluff,  and  there  was  but  one  road  that  led  up  to  it, 
and  that  was  a  very  narrow  one  on  the  extreme  right. 
This  road  was  cut  out  of  the  side  of  the  bluff,  and  was 
held  near  its  brow  by  a  heavy  Federal  force.  Captain 
Carnes  was  ordered  to  remain  and  await  orders  until 
he  could  be  used.  Meanwhile  Folk's  corps  ascended 
the  bluff  by  brigades  and  rushed  forward  to  the  attack. 
The  battle  on  the  right  became  desperate.  In  a  little- 
while  Colonel  Wharton,  of  the  Texas  Rangers,  came 
up  in  hot  haste  and  said  that  he  could  find  a  place  for 
the  battery  to  do  some  splendid  work.  At  the  same 
time  Major  Martin,  of  General  Donelson's  staff,  came  up 
with  two  regiments — the  Eighth  and  Fifty-first  Tennes- 
see— that  had  been  detached  from  Donelson's  brigade. 
After  a  hasty  consultation,  these  two  regiments  and  a 
section  of  the  battery  went  with  Colonel  Wharton, 
making  a  detour  to  the  right  toward  the  enemy's 
rear.  The  rear  of  the  Fedei'al  left  was  attacked  after 
a  manner  planned  by  the  daring  Colonel  Wharton, 
of  the  Texas  Rangers.  This  attack  was  made  upon 
a  fresh  line  of  the  Federal  forces  that  had  been  but 
recently  placed  there  as  a  reserve.  This  line,  not 
knowing  the  strength  of  the  saucy  party  attacking 
them,  and  confused  at  the  suddeness  of  the  attack 
and  the  abundance  of  musketry  and  canister  shot 
so  unexpectedly  hurled  into  their  ranks,  stampeded, 
16 


242  CARNES'S  BATTERY 

and  their  front  line  giving  back  about  tbis  time  from 
the  desperate  onslaught  of  Maney's  and  Donelson's 
brigades,  the  whole  Federal  left  was  turned  at  this 
point,  and  the  slaughter  of  the  enemy  was  sudden  and 
terrible.  The  Confederate  columns  were  now  moved 
up,  and  the  first  position  of  the  Federal  lines  had  been 
broken.  The  field  was  practically  won  by  the  Con- 
federates. 

After  the  battle  of  Perryville  and  the  return  of  the 
Confederates  to  Tennessee,  Captain  Carnes  was  inca- 
pacitated for  duty,  owing  to  sickness  and  a  wound  re- 
ceived in  the  engagement  of  October  8.  Accordingly, 
he  was  sent  on  furlough  to  Macon,  Georgia,  in  order 
to  receive  medical  treatment.  Here  he  recuperated 
and  was  captured  permanently,  not  by  Federal  bayo- 
nets, it  is  true,  but  by  the  smiles  and  charms  of  a  beauti- 
ful and  charming  young  lady  to  whom  he  was  married 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

Rumors  of  a  prospective  battle  near  Murfreesboro 
caused  Captain  Carnes  to  rejoin  his  battery  before  the 
expiration  of  his  leave  of  absence.  He  found  his  bat- 
tery encamped  with  its  brigade  in  front  of  Murfrees- 
boro. Soon  after  his  return  the  battery  went  with  the 
brigade  on  a  memorable  march  in  a  snow-storm  to  La- 
vergne,  between  Murfreesboro  and  Nashville.  The 
great  battle  of  Murfreesboro  was  fought  shortly  after- 
ward. In  this  memorable  engagement  Carnes's  bat- 
tery did  excellent  service.  The  battery  was  operated 
in  front  of  the  Cowan  House  and  in  the  cedar  brake 
on  Wednesday,  and  on  the  following  day  was  detached 
from  the  brigade  and  assigned  to  a  position  on  the  hill 
to  the  right  of  the  Nashville  pike,  in  front  of  Stone's 
River.  This  position  was  a  peculiarly  critical  and  dan- 
gerous one,  and  the  battery  was  here  supported  by  a 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  243 

Mississippi  brigade — its  own  brigade  (Donelson's) 
held  the  ground  it  had  gained  on  Wednesday. 

After  the  retreat  from  Murfreesboro  to  Shelbyville, 
the  battery  was  camped  with  its  brigade  at  Shelbyville, 
and  afterward  at  Tullahoma.  On  the  retreat  to  Chat- 
tanooga, in  July,  1862,  the  rains  were  almost  incessant, 
and  when  the  Confederates  arrived  at  the  Tennessee 
river,  near  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek,  they  found  that 
their  pontoons  had  been  broken  by  the  freshets  of  the 
previous  days  and  the  Tennessee  river  was  much 
swollen.  The  pontoon  had  broken  in  the  middle,  and 
a  part  of  the  bridge  was  found  on  each  side  of  the 
river.  The  engineer  officers  were  at  a  loss  to  manage 
it.  At  the  suggestion  of  General  Cheatham,  Captain 
Carnes  was  directed  to  take  charge  of  the  work,  and 
by  using  the  knowledge  of  ropes,  water,  and  boats 
acquired  in  the  United  States  Navy,  he  quickly  re- 
placed the  bridge,  over  which  the  retreating  army 
passed  in  safety.  For  this*  Captain  Carnes  was  highly 
complimented  by  Generals  Cheatham,  Hardee,  Wal- 
thall,  and  others,  who  witnessed  the  work  from  the 
bank  of  the  stream. 

The  battery  participated  in  all  the  movements  of  the 
brigade  up  to,  and  including,  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  In  this  latter  engagement  the  battery,  with 
the  brigade,  was  thrown  unexpectedly  upon  the  ene- 
my's breastworks,  and  through  a  misunderstanding  of 
orders  from  division  head-quarters,  the  brigade  and 
battery  each  thought  that  Walker's  division  was  in 
their  front,  and  that  they  were  advanced  as  a  support 
to  him.  _In  this  manner  the  whole  column  moved 
within  a  few  paces  of  the  enemy's  lines.  Before  the 
mistake  was  discovered,  the  battery  was  in  position. 
The  undergrowth  being  thick,  and  it  being  very  diffi- 


244  CARNES'S   BATTERY 

cult  to  ascertain  the  true  position  of  the  enemy,  who 
was  posted  on  an  advantageous  and  elevated  position 
and  could  see  the  position  of  the  Confederates,  the  fire 
became  general,  and  the  battery  received  a  severe  fire 
of  grape  and  canister  at  very  short  range.  The  Con- 
federates at  this  part  of  the  line  were  forced  to  fall 
back  a  short  distance.  The  battery  had  sustained  a 
fearful  loss  during  the  few  minutes  it  took  to  rectify 
the  mistake.  Having  lost  most  of  its  horses  and  many 
of  its  men,  Captain  Carnes  was  unable  to  bring  off  his 
guns  when  the  line  fell  back,  and  they  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  Hood's  division  of  Longstreet's 
corps  attacked  the  enemy  on  the  left  of  Wright's  bri- 
gade a  few  minutes  afterward,  and  drove  them  back. 
In  this  charge  Hood  recaptured  the  guns  of  Carnes's 
battery. 

In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  on  Saturday  evening, 
the  battery  entered  the  action  with  an  effective  total  of 
seventy-eight  men.  Of  this  number  thirty-eight  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  battery  also  lost  forty-nine 
horses  in  this  brief  action  of  Saturday  evening. 
Among  the  killed  was  Lieutenant  A.  Van  Vleck,  who 
received  three  wounds  within  fifteen  minutes,  the  last 
shot  causing  instant  death.  Also  private  Lane,  a  gal- 
lant soldier  and  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  laid 
down  his  life  in  the  battle. 

Owing  to  the  used-up  condition  of  the  recaptured 
guns  and  the  loss  of  horses  and  men,  it  was  impossible 
to  operate  the  battery,  and  the  men  being  temporarily 
assigned  to  other  duty,  Captain  Carnes  was  assigned 
to  staff  duty  under  Lieutenant-general  Polk,  who  was 
a  particular  friend.  When  Colonel  Walter,  of  Missis- 
sippi (who  was  General  Bragg's  chief  of  staff,)  learned 
that  Captain  Carnes  felt  mortified  over  the  temporary 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  245 

loss  of  his  guns  to  the  enemy  in  the  engagement  of 
Saturday  evening,  he  went  with  General  Bragg  on 
Sunday  morning  to  show  him  the  ground  occupied  by 
the  battery  at  the  time  of  its  capture.  General  Bragg 
was  pleased  with  the  work  that  Captain  Carnes  had 
performed  under  great  difficulties,  and  complimented 
him  for  the  good  work  his  battery  performed  until  it 
was  captured.  So  well  was  the  commanding  general 
pleased  with  the  ability  of  Captain  Carnes  as  an  artil- 
lery officer  that  he  caused  him  to  be  promoted  to  the 
command  of  a  battalion  of  artillery. 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  Captain  Carnes  re- 
ceived a  thirty-days'  furlough  in  order  to  refit  his  bat- 
tery, being  allowed  to  select  from  guns  out  of  the  fifty- 
nine  pieces  of  artillery  captured  by  the  Confederates 
at  Chickamauga.  On  his  return  from  Atlanta  with  the 
new  battery,  new  horses  were  given  him,  and  half  the 
men  of  Scott's  battery  were  assigned  to  Carnes's  bat- 
tery, with  one  of  Scott's  lieutenants  to  take  the  place 
of  Lieutenant  Van  Vleck,  who  was  killed  at  Chicka- 
mauga. Captain  Carnes  was  placed  in  command  of  a 
battalion  of  four  batteries  in  Stevenson's  division.  His 
own  battery  being  assigned  to  that  division  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  L.  G.  Marshall,  who  had  been  a 
first  lieutenant  all  the  tinae  while  the  battery  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Carnes.  From  this  time  to  the 
close  of  the  war  the  battery  was  separated  from  the 
brigade. 

About  this  time  the  artillery  of  the  army  was  organ- 
ized into  battalions  and  regiments,  and  managed  apart 
from  the  infantry  command.  Captain  Carnes  contin- 
ued in  command  of  a  battalion  of  artillery  until  early 
in  1864,  when  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Confed- 
erate Navy  under  a  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the 


246  CARNES'S  BATTERY 

regular  navy  of  the  Confederate  States,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Carnes's  battery  was  a  part  of  Donelson's  brigade  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  two  years.  Its  commander,  Cap- 
tain W.  W.  Carnes,  was  a  young  officer  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  He  was  honored  by  his  men  and  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  brigade,  and  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  a  gallant  and  zealous  officer,  and  a  gen- 
tleman of  sterling  integrity  and  honor.  He  always  op- 
erated his  guns  in  every  engagement  where  it  was  pos- 
sible to  plant  his  battery,  and  where  he  could  not  op- 
erate his  whole  battery  he  would  bring  up  a  section,  or 
even  one  piece,  into  action,  if  he  could  possibly  get  it 
on  the  ground.  This  was  the  case  in  many  of  the 
smaller  engagements  in  which  the  brigade  participated. 
At  Perryville,  at  Murfreesboro,  and  at  ,Chickamauga, 
the  battery  operated  all  its  guns,  and  at  close  quarters, 
with  the  enemy.  In  each  of  these  engagements  it 
rendered  valuable  assistance*  to  the  brigade  and  to  the 
whole  army.  The  soldiers  of  Donelson's  brigade  cher- 
ished the  warmest  feelings  of  friendship  and  good-will 
toward  the  officers  and  men  of  this  battery,  which  was 
reciprocated  in  full.  There  was  no  envy,  and  rivalry, 
or  jealousy,  as  was  often  the  case  between  the  infantry 
and  other  branches  of  the  service.  The  brigade  exer- 
cised a  warm  feeling  of  interest  and  pride  in  their  bat- 
tery, and  always  showed  it.  As  the  guns  would  move 
out  from  camps  with  the  infantry  columns  to  take  its 
position  with  them,  the  battery  was  always  greeted 
with  loud  and  long-continued  cheers.  The  Eighth  and 
Sixteenth  regiments  made  heavy  details  to  recruit  this 
battery  in  the  later  years  of  the  war,  and  these  regi- 
ments became  so  attached  to  Captain  Carnes  .and  his 
men  that  they  considered  them  almost  the  same  as 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  247 

members  of  the  same  company  or  regiment  with 
them. 

As  an  officer  Captain  Carnes  was  a  rigid  disciplin- 
arian, and  conducted  every  feature  of  his  military  life 
to  a  mathematical  accuracy.  Having  been  educated  at 
the  United  States  Naval  Academy  and  brought  up 
under  the  rigid  rules  of  the  navy  in  reference  to  obey- 
ing orders,  he  always  made  it  a  point  to  hold  strictly 
to  his  instructions.  When  he  was  ordered  to  hold  a 
place  as  long  as  he  could  he  madejt  a  rule  to  stay  there. 
He -considered  that  his  only  means  of  measuring  his 
ability  to  hold  a  position  to  which  he  had  been  as- 
signed was  to  stick  to  it  till  relief  came  or  he  had  or- 
ders to  leave  it.  This  was  the  case  at  Chickamauga 
where  he  was  placed  by  a  mistake,  not  his  own,  in  the 
very  mouths  of  the  enemy's  cannons  mounted  upon 
breastworks.  Here  he  worked  all  his  guns,  and  dealt 
death  and  destruction  to  the  enemy  till  half  of  his  men 
and  most  of  his  horses  were  shot  down.  When  he 
was  ordered  to  withdraw  his  battery  he  found  that  he 
had  neither  men  nor  horses  sufficient  to  take  off  his 
guns,  and,  as  has  been  before  stated,  they  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  This  was  the  only  retrograde 
movement  that  he  ever  made  from  the  field  during  his 
command  of  artillery. 

Captain  Carnes  was  a  gentleman  possessed  of  many 
good  qualities.  He  always  admired  a  fine  horse,  and 
was  always  mounted  upon  one  of  the  fleetest  and  best 
horses  in  the  army,  and  in  the  tilts  and  equestrian  ex- 
ercises at  jumping,  etc.,  he  always  excelled,  and  was 
the  best  horseman  in  Cheatham's  division. 

Captain  Carnes  was  a  citizen  of  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  was  attending 
the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis.  Es- 


248  WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE 

pousing  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  in  the  first  stages 
of  the  conflict,  he  continued  in  its  service  as  has  been 
briefly  stated,  and  was  among  the  last  to  surrender. 
In  1866,  he  was  married  at  Macon,  Georgia,  to  the 
lady  whom  he  formerly  met  at  this  place  in  1863.  In 
1867  he  settled  in  Macon,  and  has  resided  there  up  to 
the  present  time.  As  he  was  a  faithful,  gallant,  and 
true  officer  and  soldier  in  war,  and  was  honored  and 
loved  by  his  men,  he  possesses  the  same  good  qualities, 
together  with  all  the  embellishments  of  a  true  and  hon- 
orable gentleman  in  the  quiet  walks  of  peace. 


WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE. 

N 

When  General  Donelson  was  assigned  to  duty  in 
East  Tennessee,  with  the  rank  of  major-general,  Gen- 
•eral  Wright,  who  had  been  previously  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  was  placed  in  command  of 
Donelsorvs  brigade.  His  commission  was  dated  De- 
cember 13,  1862,  and  his  first  assignment  to  duty  under 
this  commission  was  in  the  command  of  a  Kentucky 
brigade  in  Hardee's  corps. 

General  Wright  was  assigned  tQ  duty  as  commander 
of  Donelson's  brigade  by  virtue  of  the  following  order: 

Special  Order,)  HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE,! 

No.  25.        \  TULLAHOMA,  TENN.,  January  31,  1863.      J 

II.  Brigadier-general  Marcus  J.  Wright  is  hereby  relieved 
from  duty  in  Hardee's  corps,  and  will  report  to  Lieutenant-gen- 
eral Polk  for  command  of  Donelson's  brigade. 

By  command  of  General  Bragg. 

GEORGE  WILLIAM  BRENT,  A.  A.  G. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  249 

Brigadier-general  Marcus  J.  Wright  entered  the  serv- 
ice as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-fourth*  Regiment  Tennessee  Infantry,  in  the 
Provisional  Army  of  Tennessee,  April  4,  1861;  was 
made  lieutenant-colonel  and  acting  adjutant-general 
June  10,  and  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  De- 
cember 13,  1862.  He  commanded  a  battalion  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  and  Steuben 
Artillery  at  Fort  Wright,  on  the  Mississippi  river  near 
Randolph,  Tenn.,  April  29,  1861.  He  was  commander 
of  the  Post  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  from  February  to  March, 
1862,  and  commanded  the  conscript  camp  at  McMinn- 
ville,  Tenn.,  from  September  to  December  12,  1862; 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Hanson's  Kentucky 
brigade  January  n,  1863,  and  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  Donelson's  brigade  February  i,  1863.  He 
commanded  the  brigade  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga 
and  Missionary  Ridge;  was  assigned  to  duty  as  com- 
mander of  the  District  and  Post  of  Atlanta  in  1863; 
was  commander  of  the  Post  at  Macon,  Ga.,  in  1864, 
and  commander  of  the  District  of  North  Mississippi 
and  West  Tennessee  from  February,  1865,  to  the  close 
of  the  war. 

Wright's  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Eighth,  Six- 
teenth, Twenty-eighth.  Thirty-eighth,  Fifty-first,  and 
Fifty-second  Tennessee  Regiments,  Murray's  Tennes- 
see Battalion,  and  Carnes's  Battery  of  Tennessee  Ar- 
tillery. This  brigade  was  a  part  of  Cheatham's  divis- 
ion, Folk's  corps,  Army  of  Tennessee. 

The  following  constituted  the  members  of  General 
Wright's  staff',  with  the  date  of  their  appointment  and 
the  period  of  their  service: 

::  This  regiment  was  numbered  on  the  old  list. 


250  WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE 

J.  T.  Beverage,  Captain  and  A.  C.  S.,  February,  1864. 

W.  II.  Browning,  Chaplain,  February,  1864. 

Laurence  L.  Butler,  Major  and  Acting  A.  A.  G.,  December, 
1863. 

Henry  L.  Elcan,  Major  and  A.  Q^  M.,  January  20,  1863. 

James  H.  Elcan,  Captain  and  Acting  A.  D.  C.,  February,  1863. 

Alexis  Gardenhire,  Acting  A.  D.  C.,  April,  1863. 

Eugene  T.  Harris,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  Januarv  20, 
1863. 

Minor  Harris,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  I.  G.,  1863-5. 

Charles  Hays,  Major  and  Acting  A.  I.  G.,  January,  1863. 

James  R.  Howard,  Colonel  and  Acting  A.  D.  C.,  1863. 

Hilton  S.  Jones,  Major  and  Chief  Surgeon,  1863-4. 

Edward  F.  Lee,  Captain  and  A.  I.  G.,  September,  1863,  to  No- 
vember, 1864. 

Andrew  J.  Paine,  Captain  and  Ordnance  Officer,  1863-4. 

William  Pierce,  Captain  and  A.  I.  G.,  1863. 

H.  Y.  Riddle,  Captain  and  Acting  A.  A.  G.,  December,  1863. 

W.  L.  Richardson,  Lieutenant  and  Provost  Marshal,  March, 
1863. 

Charles  Smith,  Vol.  A.  D.  C.,  January,  1863. 

T.  E.  Starke,  Captain  and  A.  I.  G.,  January  21,  1863. 

W.  A.  Thompson,  Captain  and  A.  C.  S.,  December,  1864,  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1865. 

John  P.  Trezevant,  Major  and  A.  C.  S.,  January  20,  1863. 

Leon  Trousdale,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G.,  January  20,  1863. 

W.  C.  Whitthorne,  Brigadier-general  and  Acting  A.  D.  C.,  Sep- 
tember 19  and  20,  1863. 

Sydney  Womack,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  I.  G.,  January  9,  1863. 

Shortly  after  the  assignment  of  General  Wright  to 
the  command  of  the  brigade,  General  Cheatham  ad- 
dressed him,  through  his  adjutant-general,  Major  John 
Ingram,  asking  him  for  the  names  of  two  Tennesseans 
of  the  brigade  who  fell  at  the  battles  of  Perryville  and 
M.urfreesboro,  who  were  conspicuous  for  their  gal- 
lantry on  the  field.  General  Wright  forwarded  the 
names  of  Captain  B.  H.  Holland,  of  the  Thirty-eighth 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  251 

Tennessee,  and  Colonel  W.  L.  Moore,  of  the  Eighth 
Tennessee,  who  fell  at  Murfreesboro,  as  shown  by  the 
following  correspondence: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE,  } 

CHEATHAM'S  DIVISION,  FOLK'S  CORPS,     >• 

ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE,  April  16,  1863.) 

Major : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  jour 
note  of  the  I3th  inst.,  informing  me  that  the  major-general  com- 
manding directs  me  to  furnish  the  names  of  "two  Tennesseans 
of  the  hrigade  who  fell  at  Murfreesboro  and  Perryville  conspic- 
uous for  their  gallantry,"  for  the  purpose  of  making  appropriate 
inscriptions  on  the  guns  of  Maney's  brigade. 

I  respectfully  forward  the  names  of  Colonel  William  L. 
Moore,  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  and  Cap- 
tain B.  H.  Holland,  of  Company  C,  Thirty-eighth  Regiment 
Tennessee  Volunteers,  both  of  whom  were  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Murfreesboro,  and  both  of  whom  were  conspicuous  for  their 
gallantry  displayed  upon  that  ever-memorable  field. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

MARCUS  J.  WRIGHT,  Bigadier-general  Commanding. 

Major  JOHN  INGRAM,  A.  A.  G. 

General  Wright  was  a  clever,  genial  gentleman,  quiet 
and  urbane  in  his  habits,  and  was  a  good  soldier.  His 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  over  Colonel 
Savage  was  not  agreeable  to  the  greater  portion  of  the 
brigade,  though  they  had  no  animosity  against  him  as  a 
man.  They  regarded  him  as  a  gentleman,  but  at  the 
same  time  they  felt  that  the  promotion  should  have  been 
given  to  Colonel  Savage,  who  was  at  the  time  the  sen- 
ior colonel  of  the  brigade.  The  men  knew  Colonel 
Savage  as  a  commander  and  had  confidence  in  him. 
Of  Colonel  Wright  they  knew  comparatively  nothing, 
and  were  disappointed  when  he  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade.  General  Wright  did  compara- 
tively little,  however,  in  procuring  this  promotion.  He 
was  popular  with  the  governor  and  State  authorities, 


252  WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE 

some  of  whom,  it  was  said,  were  far  from  being  ad- 
mirers of  Colonel  Savage.  Some  old  campaign  spleen 
was  between  them  and  him,  and  the  feud,  though  par- 
tially dissembled,  dated  back  for  several  years  pre- 
vious to  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Many  of  Colonel 
Savage's  friends  were  of  opinion  that  some  of  the 
State  officers  were  in  concert  with  the  governor,  and 
their  programme  seemed  to  be  to  see  that  Savage  was 
promoted  no  further.  Seeing  that  there  would  be  a 
promotion  for  General  Donelson  in  the  near  future, 
they  procured  for  Colonel  Wright  a  commission  as 
brigadier-general  in  advance  of  any  vacancy.  When 
the  vacancy  did  occur,  they  had  a  brigadier  ready  to 
take  charge  of  Donelson's  brigade. 

General  Wright  received  the  commission  some  time 
in  advance  of  Donelson's  promotion.  The  authorities 
treated  Colonel  Savage  with  great  injustice  in  this 
transaction.  They  were  the  parties  who  did  the  wrong, 
and  were  the  proper  subjects  of  reproach.  General 
Wright  accepted  the  commission  which  thev  procured 
for  him.  That  the  authorities  made  a  mistake  in  this 
action  was  apparent  to  many  who  were  in  the  brigade. 
Colonel  Savage  was  the  superior  of  General  Wright 
in  many  respects  as  a  commander.  .Savage  was  best 
qualified  for  a  field  commander,  while  Wright  had  not 
a  superior  as  a  district  or  post  commander.  This  was 
demonstrated  in  the  sequel.  General  Wright's  record 
as  commander  of  the  Post  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  at  Mc- 
Minnville,  Tenn.,  Charleston,  Term.,  and  at  Dalton, 
Macon,  and  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  the  District  of  North 
Mississippi,  is  creditable  to  him  as  an  officer,  and  in 
that  capacity  he  was  without  a  superior  in  the  Army 
of  Tennessee.  As  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-fourth  Tennessee,  General  Wright  had 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  253 

a  good  record,  and  distinguished  himself  in  several 
battles. 

General  Wright  did  what  most  young  officers  wculd 
have  done  in  accepting  the  promotion  thus  procured 
for  him.  In  this  war  ''rank"  was  every  thing.  The 
Southern  soldiery  delighted  in  promotion,  and  few 
indeed  would  have  declined  the  commission  of  a  brig- 
adier. 

Though  Colonel  Savage  declined  to  serve  under  Gen- 
eral Wright,  for  reasons  explained  in  his  farewell  ad- 
dress to  his  regiment,  there  was  no  ill  will  between 
them,  and  there  ever  afterward  existed  a  warm  friend- 
ship between  these  two  officers. 

As  an  officer,  General  Wright  was  kind  and  court- 
eous. There  was  little  of  the  pomp  and  display  usual 
to  the  commander  of  a  brigade.  He  was  in  every 
respect  a  gentleman.  On  account  of  bad  health,  his 
stay  with  the  brigade  was  brief,  during  which  time  his 
command  was  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Mis- 
sionary Ridge.  Under  the  chapter  of  "Official  Re- 
ports" can  be  found  General  Wright's  official  report 
of  the  conduct  of  his  brigade  in  these  two  battles. 

Since  the  war  General  Wright  has  resided  much  of 
his  time  in  Washington,  where  he  has  had  charge  of 
the  war  records. 


254        THE  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT 


SEVENTEENTH    REGIMENT  TENNESSEE 
VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  composed  of^companies  from  the 
counties  of  Franklin,  Bedford,  Marshall,  Jackson,  and 
Putnam,  and  was  organized  at  Camp  Trousdale  in 
May,  1861.  The  field  and  staff  officers,  at  the  time  of 
the  organization,  were  as  follows: 

TAZ  W.  NEWMAN,  Colonel; 

T.  C.  H.  MILLER,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

A.  L.  LANDIS,  Major; 

KINCHELOE,  Adjutant; 

WATT  W.  FLOYD,  Quartermaster; 

W.  C.  COLLINS,  Commissary; 

JOHN  W.  O'NEAL,  Sergeant-major; 

W.  F.  CALLAHAN,  Quartermaster-sergeant; 

THOMAS  HARREL,  Commissary-sergeant; 

Dr.  WATT  GENTRY,  Surgeon; 

Dr. WHITFIELD,  Assisant  Surgeon; 

Rev.  E.  B.  CHRISMAN,  Chaplain. 

The  regiment  was  composed  of  the  following  com- 
panies: 

COM  PANT  A— Bedford  County. 

J.  D.  Hoyle Captain. 

T.  B.  Terry First  Lieutenant. 

Robert  Campbell Second  Lieutenant. 

Joseph   Hastings Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  B— Bedford  County. 

W.  A.  Landis Captain. 

U.  C.  Harrison First  Lieutenant. 

H.  M.  Kimsey Second  Lieutenant. 

Math  Cortiner Third  Lieutenant. . 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  255 

COMPANY  C—Marsliall  County. 

R.  C.  Williams Captain. 

J.  C.  Davis First  Lieutenant. 

F.  M.  Orr Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  M.  Bryant Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  D— Franklin  County. 
T.  H.  Finch Captain. 

G.  W.  Corn First  Lieutenant. 

William  Lee Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Cardin Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  E— Franklin  County. 

Albert  S.  Marks Captain. 

William  Newman First  Lieutenant. 

James  Grant Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  H.  Cole. Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  F— Marshall  County. 

R.  H.  Hunter ..Captain. 

John  Bigger First  Lieutenant. 

William  Wallace Second  Lieutenant. 

James  Hunter Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  G— Bedford  County. 

James  Armstrong Captain. 

Thomas   H.  Watterson First  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Cleveland Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Woods Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  H— Marshall  County. 

R.  H.  McCrory Captain. 

W.  H.  Holden First  Lieutenant. 

G.  W.  Collins Second  Lieutenant. 

Sanders Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANT  T— Franklin  County. 

J.  A.  Matthews Captain. 

G.  W.  Ingall First  Lieutenant. 

Anderson Second  Lieutenant. 

Stewart...  ..Third  Lieutenant. 


256       THE  SEVENTEENTH   REGIMENT 

COMPANY  K— Jackson  County. 

S.  B.  McDearmon Captain. 

W.  W.  Cowan First  Liriitoiant. 

R.  B.  Montgomery Second  Lieutenant. 

G.  W.  Montgomery Third  Lieutenant. 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  placed  in  Zollicoffer's 
command,  which  was  composed  of  the  following  reg- 
iments: Fifteenth  Mississippi,  Colonel  Statum;  Elev- 
enth Tennessee,  Colonel  Raines;  Seventeenth  Tennes- 
see, Colonel  Newman;  Nineteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel 
Cummings;  Twentieth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Battle; 
which  operated  in  Kentucky  and  East  Tennessee  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  the  war,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Rock  Castle  and  Fishing  Creek,  after  which  it  joined 
the  army  of  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  in  whose 
command  it  operated  during  the  campaign  of  North 
Mississippi. 

On  May  8,  1862,  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  re- 
organized at  Corinth,  in  accordance  with  an  act  of  the 
Confederate  Congress  and  .orders  from  General  Beau- 
regard.  The  regimental  officers  at  the  reorganization 
were  as  follows: 

ALBERT  S.  MARKS,  Colonel; 

WATT  W.  FLOYD,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

JAMES  C.  DAVIS,  Major; 

J.  B.  FITZPATRICK,  Adjutant; 

D.  B.  SHOFTNER,  Sergeant-major; 

JAMES  LITTLE,  Ordnance-sergeant; 

B.  H.  McCRORY,  Quartermaster; 

T.  H.  FINCH,  Commissary; 

Dr.  W.  M.  GENTRY,  Surgeon; 

Dr.  ALFRED  JONES,  Assistant  Surgeon; 

Rev.  A.  B.  MOORE,  Chaplain. 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  257 

The  company  officers  were  as  follows: 

COMPANY  A. 

F.  B.  Terry Captain. 

J.  D.  Floyd ?. First  Lieutenant. 

J.  H.  Hastings Second  Lieutenant. 

Robert  Campbell Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

U.  C.  Harrison Captain-. 

H.  M.  Kimsey ...» First  Lieutenant. 

Hight Second  Lieutenant. 

Miles Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

F.  M.  Orr Captain. 

J.  W.  McCrory First  Lieutenant. 

R.  H.  Armstrong Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 
H.  C.  Garden -Captain. 

G.  W.  Corn First  Lieutenant. 

W.  L.  Elzy v Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K 

John  R.  Handly Captain. 

J.  Tipps First  Lieutenant. 

M.  W.  Black Second  Lieutenant. 

G.  W.  Waggoner Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

J.  D.  Cooper Captain. 

R.  P.  McCullough First  Lieutenant. 

William  Byars Second  Lieutenant. 

Lee  Cathey Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

Thomas  H.  Watterson Captain. 

Mutt  Scruggs First  Lieutenant. 

Joel  Peay Second  Lieutenant. 

John  Scott  (resigned) Third  Lieutenant. 

John  Henslee  (elected  to  fill  vacancy) Third  Lieutenant. 

17 


258   THE  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT 
COMPANY  H. 

McAdams  (resigned) Captain. 

G.  "W.  O'Neal  (promoted) First  Lieutenant. 

T.  P.  Tolley  (promoted) Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  L.  Elzy  (promoted)..... Third  Lieutenant. 

Z.  W.  Ewing  (promoted) Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

William  Clark Captain. 

J.  W.  Bolton First  Lieutenant. 

Looney Second  Lieutenant. 

Kelley Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

G.  W.  McDonald .-...  Captain. 

James  P.  Byrne First  Lieutenant. 

M.  L.  Poe Second  Lieutenent. 

J.  D.  McKinley Third  Lieutenant. 

At  the  time  of  the  reorganization  the  Seventeenth 
Regiment  was  a  part  of  Hawthorn's  brigade,  Cle- 
burne's  division.  The  brigade  was  composed  of  the 
following  regiments:  Twenty-third  Tennessee,  Colonel 
Neil;  Fifth  Confederate  Tennessee,  Colonel  Pickett; 
Thirty-third  Alabama,  Colonel  Adams;  Seventeenth 
Tennessee,  Colonel  Marks. 

The  Seventeenth  Tennessee  remained  at  Corinth 
until  the  evacuation,  and  accompanied  Bragg's  army 
in  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Perryville,  and  afterward  in  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro. 

From  the  time  of  its  organization  to  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro,  its  campaigns  amounted  to  a  total  of 
3,597  miles,  of  which  it 

Marched J)532  miles. 

Traveled  on  cars li^5      " 

Traveled  on  steamboat 400      " 

Total 3,597      " 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  259 

The  following  register  of  its  marches  was  kindly 
furnished  us  from  the  diary  of  Private  S.  G.  Ferguson, 
of  Company  I,  who  was  a  good  soldier,  and  died  in 
prison  at  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  in  December,  1864,  hav- 
ing been  captured  at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  in 
November,  1863: 


260        THE  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS. 


261 


:  :—  -JT  '^  -lr  -"r  '1:  "1:  ^  cc  "'"  —  :—  '- 
:  sc  -x  x  x  x  'JO  x  t.  -s- -r. -x. -s- -TJ 


l?A\m\m 

"     :  t<  D  s3    •     :    _ 


<^<<^-^-/-^-/^ooooo 


262        THE  SEVENTEETH  REGIMENT 

In  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  the  losses  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Tennessee  amounted  to  246  in  killed  and 
•wounded.  In  this  battle  Colonel  Marks  lost  his  right 
leg,  and  the  whole  field  and  staff,  except  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Floyd,  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  In  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  the  losses  of  the  Seventeenth 
were,  killed,  20;  wounded,  57;  captured,  70 — total,  147. 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  before  the  bat- 
tle of  Missionary  Ridge,  the  Seventeenth  Tennessee 
Infantry  was  detached  from  the  Army  of  Tennessee, 
and  became  incorporated  into  the  army  commanded 
by  General  Longstreet  in  upper  East  Tennessee,  and 
during  the  campaign  of  1863-4,  under  his  command, 
it  participated  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  the  battle  of 
Bean's  Station,  beside  a  number  of  minor  engagements 
at  various  points  in  East  Tennessee  during  the  winter 
of  1863-4.  The  regiment  had  several  men  killed  and 
wounded  in  that  campaign,  and  suffered  great  hard- 
ships by  reason  of  the  want  of  food  and  clothing  and 
the  long  marches  in  the  severe  winter  weather. 

In  May,  1864,  the  regiment  was  removed  to  the 
Army  of  Virginia,  and  immediately  upon  its  arrival  at 
Petersburg,  it  engaged  the  Federal  forces  under  Gen- 
eral Butler,  and  as  the  object  was  to  delay  his  march 
on  Richmond  until  General  Beauregard  could  re-en- 
force the  inferior  Confederate  force,  it  was  engaged 
for  a  number  of  days  in  fighting  the  enemy  at  every 
eligible  point,  so  as  to  retard  General  Butler's  advance. 
Finally,  the  enemy  occupied  the  fortification  at  Drury's 
Bluff,  and  General  Beauregard  arriving  at  this  con- 
juncture, the  enemy  were  assaulted,  and  the  Seven- 
teenth Regiment  being  among  the  first  to  carry  the 
fortifications  in  its  front,  and  pressing  the  enemy 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  263 

closely,  had  both  of  its  flanks  uncovered,  and  by  rea- 
son of  this  fact  sustained  a  severe  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Lieutenant-colonel 
Floyd. 

The  enemy  being  repulsed  at  all  points  and  Peters- 
burg being  uncovered,  the  Seventeenth  returned  there, 
and  from  this  time  to  the  close  of  the  war  it  was  con- 
stantly engaged  in  repelling  the  assaults  of  the  enemy 
in  the  works  around  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  as  ex- 
igency required,  until  the  evacuation  of  Richmond 
and  Petersburg.  In  the  many  engagements  it  had  with 
the  enemy,  the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  great. 
It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  and  by  a  gallant  and  successful  charge 
upon  the  enemy,  it  gained  much  credit  in  that  engage- 
ment. It  was  one  of  the  last  regiments  to  leave  the 
defenses  around  Petersburg,  and  it  did  not  retire  until 
it  had  repeatedly  repulsed  the  enemy  on  its  front,  and 
was  nearly  entirely  enveloped  by  the  enemy.  In  this 
engagement  it  lost  a  number  in  killed  and  wounded, 
and  one  half  the  survivors  were  captured. 

From  Petersburg  the  regiment  marched  to  Appo- 
mattox,  and  there,  with  the  army  of  General  Lee,  was 
surrendered,  April  9,  1865. 


264          THE  ELEVENTH  REGIMENT 

THE  ELEVENTH  REGIMENT  TENNESSEE 
VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  made  up  of  companies  from  the 
counties  of  Dickson,  Hickman,  Humphreys,  Robert- 
son, and  Davidson.  The  regiment  was  at  first  com- 
manded by  Colonel  James  E.  Raines,  and  after  the 
promotion  of  Colonel  Raines,  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  George  W.  Gordon.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  some  of  the  officers  of  this  regiment:  Cap- 
tains James  Long,  William  Green,  James  Mallory,  Jo- 
seph Pitts,  Samuel  Godshall,  Richard  McCann,  Van 
Weems,  William  Thedford,  Hugh  Lucas,  T.  P.  Bate- 
man.  These  gentlemen  were  commanders  of  compa- ' 
nies  in  the  Eleventh  Tennessee.  Dr.  Maney  was  sur- 
geon of  this  regiment,  and  the  Rev.  Fountain  E.  Pitts 
was  its  chaplain. 

This  regiment  served  under  ZollicofTer,  and  was  a 
part  of  Raines's  brigade,  Colonel  Raines  having  been 
promoted  to  brigadier-general.  After  the  death  of 
Zollicoffer,  the  Eleventh  Tennessee  was  under  General 
E.  Kirby  Smith  about  Cumberland  Gap.  It  was  in 
the  battles  of  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  and  all  the 
battles  of  the  Georgia  campaign.  It  also  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  was  sur- 
rendered with  Johnston's  army  at  Greensboro,  N.  C., 
at  the  close  of  the  war. 

We  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  of  the  muster- 
rolls  of  this  regiment,  or  any  list  of  it*  casualties.  It 
was  composed  of  good  men  and  they  fought  well.  Its 
losses  in  the  different  battles  were  very  severe,  showing 
that  it  alwavs  went  where  danger  was  thickest.  The 


TENNESSEE  VOLUNTEERS.  265 

original  commander  of  this  regiment,  General  Raines, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro. 


THIRTY-THIRD  REGIMENT  TENNESSEE 
VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  made  up  of  companies  from  West 
Tennessee,  principally  from  the  counties  of  Obion, 
Weakley,  and  Madison.  The  regiment  was  originally 
commanded  by  Colonel  A.  W.  Campbell,  who  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in  1864. 
Warren  P.  Jones  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Resaca.  Newton 
Paine  was  major.  Among  the  officers  of  the  regiment 
we  have  the  names  of  the  following: 


Captain  HENRY  HICKMAN,  Captain 

Captain  BEDFORD,  Captain  LACY, 

Captain  W.  F.  MARBURY,  Captain  COCHRANE, 

Captain  W.  B.  McWmRTER,  Captain  MOROD, 

Captain  GEORGE  WILSON,  Captain  MORRIS. 

Captain  McWhirter  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga. 

We  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  rolls  of  the  com- 
panies or  any  list  of  the  casualties.  The  regiment  be- 
longed to  Cheatham's  division  of  Folk's  corps,  and 
fought  through  the  war.  As  it  followed  Cheatham,  it 
went  where  there  was  hard  fighting.  The  gallant  old 
Thirty-third  was  a  splendid  regiment. 


266  THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT 


SEVENTH    KENTUCKY  REGIMENT,  RUST'S 
BRIGADE. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Burnett,  Ken- 
tucky, September,  1861,  and  was  composed  largely  of 
Tennesseans,  though  many  were  resident  Kentuckians. 
The  regiment  was  placed  in  General  Cheatham's  bri- 
gade. After  General  Cheatham  was  promoted  to  ma- 
jor-general, the  brigade  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Rust,  who  was  made  a  brigadier-general. 

Colonel  Charles  WicklifFe  was  the  original  com- 
mander of  this  regiment,  and  was  a  gallant  officer  as 
well  as  a  good  man.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  Colonel 
WicklifFe  was  killed,  arid  his  regiment  suffered  severely. 
The  old  Seventh  was  a  gallant  regiment.  After  the 
death  of  Colonel  Wickliffe,  it  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Crossland.  It  was  subsequently  transferred 
to  Buford's  division  of  Forrest's  cavalry,  where  it 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Seventh  Kentucky  did  much  hard  fighting,  both 
as  infantry  and  cavalry.  Colonel  Crossland  was  as 
brave  an  officer  as  ever  was  placed  in  command  of 
men.  His  daring  exploits  are  prominently  recorded  in 
the  history  of  Forrest's  cavalry. 

Colonel  Wickliffe,  the  original  commander  of  the 
Seventh  Kentucky,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Ballard 
county,  and  warmly  appreciated  by  his  people.  Since 
the  building  of  the  Jackson  route  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  a  town  has  sprung  up  on  its  line  six  miles 
south  of  Cairo,  in  Ballard  county,  Ky.,  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Mississippi.  This  town  has  grown  rapidly 
and  commands  a  flourishing  business.  Two  parallel 


KENTUCKY  VOLUNTEERS.  267 

lines  of  railroad  pass  it — the  Illinois  Central,  leading  to 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  the  Mobile  and  Ohio,  leading  to 
Mobile.  The  country  around  is  fertile  and  the  people 
are  comfortable  and  prosperous. 

The  town  was  named  WICKLIFFE,  in  honor  of  the 
departed  hero  of  the  gallant  old  Seventh  Kentucky, 
and  is  at  present  the  county-seat  of  Ballard  county. 


268  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


OP 


CHAPTER    IX. 

CAPTAIN  D.  C.  SPURLOCK 

Was  the  son  of  James  Spurlock,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  enterprising  business  men  of  Warren 
county.  He  was  born  near  McMinnville.  His 
early  life  was  devoted  to  work  in  connection  with  his 
father's  business,  and  he  received  a  respectable  educa- 
tion at  home.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  at  McMinnville,  and  was 
noted  for  his  upright  and  consistent  life,  and  for  his 
piety  and  integrity.  He  was  in  every  respect  an  ex- 
emplary man,  and  was  loved  by  his  associates  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him. 

Upon  arriving  at  his  majority,  Captain  Spurlock  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  in  McMinnville,  which 
occupation  he  followed  successfully  till  the  beginning 
of  the  war  in  1861.  At  this  time  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Captain  Donnell's  company,  of  the  Sixteenth 
Regiment,  and  served  in  this  capacity  through  the 
Cheat  Mountain  campaign,  during  which  he' was  called, 
on  account  of  his  most  excellent  business  qualities,  to 
the  position  of  quartermaster  of  the  regiment.  In  this 
position  he  proved  himself  eminently  qualified,  and 


CAPTAIN  SPURLOCK.  269 

filled  the  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfactkm 
to  all  concerned. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment,  he  resigned 
his  position  as  quartermaster  and  returned  to  the  ranks 
of  his  old  company,  who,  appreciating  his  merits  and 
good  qualities,  called  him  to  their  command  by  their 
unanimous  voice.  Accepting  the  position  so  strongly 
urged  upon  him  by  his  comrades,  he  commanded  his 
company  (C)  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  regiment  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  the  battle  of  Perryville,  his  younger  brother,  Lieu- 
tenant Cicero  Spurlock,  of  his  company,  fell  in  the 
opening  of  the  fight.  At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro, 
December  31,  1862,  Captain  Spurlock  was  among  the 
slain  in  the  fearful  carnage  of  the  first  day's  fight.  His 
aged  father  and  mother  had  come  to  Murfreesboro 
shortly  before  the  battle,  and  were  stopping  with  Mr. 
Miles,  at  the  Miles  House,  when  the  battle  came  up. 
On  the  night  before  the  first  day's  fight,  Captain  Spur- 
lock obtained  a  short  leave  of  absence  from  his  com- 
mand in  order  to  call  upon  his  parents  at  the  hotel. 
Captain  Miles,  who  witnessed  the  meeting  and  the 
parting  of  parents  and  son  on  this  eventful  night,  de- 
scribes the  scene  as  deeply  affecting.  After  a  brief 
meeting,  he  bestowed  a  parting  kiss  upon  each  of  his 
aged  parents,  who,  in  return,  -bestowed  upon  him  their 
parting  blessing  and  an  assurance  of  their  prayers. 
The  son,  who,  though  arrived  at  mature  years,  and 
laden  with  the  honors  of  those  who  had  associated 
with  him  so  long,  showed  on  this  occasion  that  respect, 
and  honor,  and  love  for  his  father  and  mother  that  had 
shone  so  brilliantly  in  childhood,  and  which  the  cares 
and  allurements  of  more  advanced  years  could  not  ob- 
scure. With  much  tenderness  and  love,  he  bid  adieu 


270  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

to  his  father  and  mother,  and  this,  was  the  last  time 
they  ever  saw  him  alive. 

On  the  following  morning  the  great  battle  opened. 
In  the  midst  of  its  fearful  carnage,  Captain  Spurlock 
fell  at  the  head  of  his  company.  He  fell  at  his  post, 
with  his  face  to  the  foe.  He  yielded  up  a  glorious  life 
to  the  cause  he  loved,  and  his  loss  was  deplored  by  his 
comrades  as  that  of  a  brother.  His  remains  were 
brought  off  the  field  and  conveyed  to  McMinnville, 
where  loving  hands  administered  the  last  sad  service, 
and  where  loving  hearts  bow  down  in  deference  to 
the  memory  of  one  so  brave,  so  kind,  so  pure  and 
good;  whose  life  had  been  one  bright  record  of  kind- 
ness and  usefulness,  upon  which  had  been  centered  so 
many  worthy  and  noble  deeds. 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  M.  PARKS. 

Captain  James  M.  Parks  was  the  son  of  Carrol 
Parks,  a  substantial  and  respected  farmer  of  Warren 
county,  Tennessee.  His  ancestors  came  from  North 
Carolina  at  an  early  period  and  settled  in  Warren 
county. 

In  his  boyhood  Captain  Parks  labored  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  as  he  arrived  at  his  twentieth  year  he  was 
placed  in  Irving  College,  where  he  remained  as  a  stu- 
dent until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  the 
States.  At  this  time  he  enlisted  in  Captain  L.  H. 
Meadows's  company,  and  was  elected  orderly  sergeant 
at  its  organization  in  May,  1861.  He  was  elected  cap- 
tain of  this  company  at  Corinth  in  May,  1862,  at  the 
reorganization  of  the  regiment,  and  served  in*  this  ca- 
pacity to  the  day  of  his  death.  Throughout  his  whole 


CAPTAIN  PARKS.  271 

military  life  Captain  Parks  was  much  respected  for  his. 
upright,  exemplary  life,  and  for  his  many  sterling  qual- 
ities, both  as  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier.  He  was  with 
his  company  through  all  its  marches  and  in  all  its  bat- 
tles to  that  of  Chickamauga,  when  he  received  a  fatal 
wound  on  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  fight.  He  was 
pierced  by  a  grape-shot  through  the  upper  portion  of 
his  left  breast,  the  missile  ranging  in  the  region  of  the 
heart,  and  he  lived  but  a  few  hours.  His  company  and 
regiment  lamented  his  loss  as  that  of  a  brother. 

Captain  Parks  was  in  every  respect  a  worthy  young 
man.  Kind  and  respectful  to  all,  he  won  the  good-will 
and  respect  of  all 'who  knew  him.  His  daily  walk  and 
conversation  was  without  spot  or  blemish.  Upright, 
circumspect,  and  conscientious  in  all  things,  he  pos- 
sessed the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  superiors,  as 
well  as  those  who  were  under  his  command.  In  his 
seventeenth  year,  Captain  Parks  made  a  profession  of 
religion  and  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Hebron,  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  He  was  an 
upright,  pious,  and  exemplary  young  man  at  home,  at 
school,  and  in  all  the  walks  of  domestic  life.  When 
he  entered  the  army,  those  Christian  graces  which  he 
cherished  with  so  much  prayerful  care  in  his  previous 
life  never  yielded  to  the  temptations  of  army  life.  He 
cherished  those  graces  with  more  watchful'  care.  It 
was  the  motto  of  his  daily  life  in  the  army  that  "  relig- 
ion is  the  same  in  the  army  as  at  home,1'  and  requires 
even  more  at  the  hands  of  its  votaries. 

Captain  Parks  was  buried  on  the  battle-field  of  Chick- 
amauga, near  the  spot  where  he  fell.  After  the  close 
of  the  war  his  remains  were  removed  by  his  father 
from  the  battle-field  to  the  church-yard  at  Hebron, 
where  they  now  rest,  and  the  spot  is  marked  by  a  mar- 
ble which  records  the  time  and  place  of  his  death. 


272 


SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


COLONEL  JOEL  A.  BATTLE. 

Joel  A.  Battle  was  born  in  Davidson  county,  Ten- 
nessee, September  19,  1811. 

His  father  was  originally  from  North  Carolina,  and 
his  mother,  Lucinda  Mayo  Battle,  being  the  owner  of 
targe  estates  in  that  county,  he,  by  inheritance,  became 
the  possessor  of  much  landed  property. 


COLONEL  JOEL    A.    BATTLE. 

He  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  His  educa- 
tion was  limited,  there  being  no  good  schools  near  him. 
He  was  much  beloved  by  his  elders,  his  reverence  for 
the  aged  being  remarkable  even  in  his  childhood. 


COLONEL  BATTLE.  273 

In  his  nineteenth  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Searcy,  of  Rutherford  county,  Tennessee.  Two  years 
after  this  marriage  his  wife  died,  leaving  an  only  son. 

Shortly  after'his  wife's  death  he  raised  a  company 
near  his  home  and  enlisted  in  the  Florida  War. 

After  his  return  home  from  the  war  he  met  Miss 
Adeline  Sanders  Mosely,  a  lady  remarkable  alike  for 
her  native  refinement  and  her  firm  Christian  charac- 
ter. 

Six  years  after  his  first  marriage  he  was  united  to 
Miss  Mosely,  at  her  home  near  the  Hermitage. 

As  a  quiet  farmer,  he  lived  with  his  growing  family 
at  the  home  of  his  ancestors  for  many  years. 

In  1835  he  was  elected  brigadier-general  of  the  State 
militia,  and  in  1851-2  represented  Davidson  county  in 
the  Legislature,  having,  with  the  Hon.  Russell  Hous- 
ton, been  chosen  representative  for  that  session  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

Pie  was  a  zealous  Whig,  but  no  partisan  spirit  pre- 
vented his  earnest  devotion  to  the  public  interests  and 
his  constant  adherence  to  the  principles  of  right  and 
justice. 

As  a  friend  he  was  unwavering  in  his  attachments. 
His  determination  and  success  in  overcoming  obstacles 
that  came  in  his  way  was  unsurpassed. 

He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  serving  as  colonel 
of  the  Twentieth  Tennessee. 

The  first  engagement  in  which  his  regiment  was  en- 
gaged was  at  Barboursville,  Kentucky.  By  a  ruse  the 
colonel  commanding,  as  he  charged  the  enemy,  im- 
pressed them  with  the  idea  that  he  had  artillery,  which 
was  not  the  fact.  The  charge  was  successful,  and  the 
enemy  fled. 

At  Fishing  Creek  Colonel  Battle's  regiment  did  no- 
18 


274  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

ble  duty.  General  Zollicoffer,  commanding  the  bri- 
gade to  which  th'is  regiment  belonged,  fell  early  in  the 
action.  Colonel  Walthall,  of  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi, 
was  next  in  command.  The  Confederates  being  sud- 
denly overwhelmed  by  numbers  were  forced  to  fall 
back.  The  Twentieth  Tennessee,  after  suffering  a 
heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  being  cut  off 
from  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi  by  a  flank  movement 
of  the  enemy,  came  near  being  captured,  but  made  a 
successful  retreat,  Colonel  Battle  in  command. 
•  Joel  A.  Battle,  jr.,  a  gifted  son  of  Colonel  Battle,  was 
seriously  wounded  in  the  left  breast,  and  was  brought 
off  the  field  on  the  back  of  a  fellow  soldier. 

Many  were  the  hardships  these  soldiers  endured  in 
this,  their  first  disastrous  defeat,  and  they  often  refer 
to  the  watchful  care  their  commander  had  for  them 
midst  these  trying  reverses. 

General  Breckinridge,  to  whose  division  the  Twen- 
tieth Tennessee  was  attached,  often  spoke  with  pride 
of  his  confidence  in  the  bravery  and  steadfastness  of  the 
noble  Twentieth  Tennessee.  As  a  mark  of  his  esteem 
he  presented  to  this  regiment  a  handsome  flag  made 
of  his  wife's  wedding  dress.  At  Shiloh  the  Twentieth 
was  in  the  heat  of  the  battle.  Colonel  Battle  had  three 
horses  shot  from  under  him.  On  the  first  day  his  old- 
est son,  William,  was  killed.  The  father's  heart  was 
made  sad  by  the  loss,  and  he  clung  the  more  tenderly 
to  his  other  boy,  who,  still  suffering  from  the  wound 
received  at  Fishing  Creek,  rode  with  one  arm  in  a 
sling,  doing  active  service  through  the  day  as  adjutant 
of  the  regiment.  The  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Shi- 
loh is  remembered  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Twentieth  as 
the  bloodiest  day  of  the  war.  After  such  fighting  as 
was  never  surpassed,  the  Federals,  being  heavily  rein- 


COLONEL  BATTLE.  275 

forced,  the  Confederates  were  compelled  to  move  back. 
When  under  the  cover  of  night  they  reached  their 
tents,  inquiries  were  made  for  missing  ones.  One  of 
Colonel  Battle's  men  said  to  him,  "Joel  is  shot  and  has 
fallen  as  we  fell  back."  The  father  went  back  to  hunt 
for  his  boy,  and  was  captured  in  an  exhausted  state 
when  he  had  gone  but  a  little  distance.  The  body  of 
his  brave  and  gallant  son  was  found  the  next  morning, 
and  buried  by  some  of  his  fellow  students  *  of  Miami 
University. 

Colonel  Battle  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  for  a 
long  while.  After  his  exchange  he  was  made  Treasurer 
of  the  State  of  Tennessee  under  Governor  Harris,  his 
health  beiijg  t<~>o  feeble  to  again  enter  the  service.  After 
the  war  was  over,  he  came  to  Nashville  to  seek  in  some 
way  to  better  his  then  depleted  financial  condition. 
Being  energetic  and  attentive  to  business,  he  managed 
to  maintain  his  family  by  his  own  exertions. 

In  1872,  Governor  John  C.  Brown  conferred  upon 
General  Battle  the  appointment  of  Superintendent  of 
the  State  Prison,  which  position  he  occupied  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  After  the  commencement  of  his 
administration  as  superintendent,  important  changes 
were  inaugurated  in  the  control  and  discipline  of  the 
prison,  believed  by  those  most  conversant  with  the 
affairs  of  that  institution  to  have  been  a  great  improve- 
ment on  the  old  system,  both  for  the  good  of  the  pris- 
oners and  the  interests  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  Nashville,  August  23,  1872.  His  re- 
mains, as  they  were  carried  to  the  old  family  burying- 

*  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Chamberlain,  Captain  R.  N.  Adams,  Ser- 
geant John  R.  Chamberlain,  Adjutant  Frank  Evans,  private  Jo- 
seph Wilson — all  of  the  Eighty-first  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry. 


276  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

ground,  were  followed  through  the  city  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  "  Old  Twentieth  "  on  foot. 


COLONEL  JOHN  H.  SAVAGE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  .born  in  the  town  of 
McMinnville,  Warren  county,  Tennessee,  October  15, 
1815,  and  is  at  present  near  seventy  years  of  age.  He 
was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  near  McMinn- 
ville, and  spent  his  youth  as  a  farmer.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  persistent  student,  and,  possessed  of  great  en- 
ergy and  perseverance,  he  rapidly  acquired  a  good 
stock  of  practical  information  on  all  general  topics,  and 
an  ability  to  wield  the  same  forcibly  and  to  the  point. 
He  rose  rapidly  into  prominence  while  a  mere  youth, 
and  his  influence  was  forcibly  felt  in  whatever  cause 
he  espoused.  Possessed  of  a  true  and  sterling  integ-* 
rity,  and  a  disposition  that  bestowed  all  its  insight  and 
all  its  powers  to  the  support  and  maintenance  of  the 
right,  Colonel  Savage  was  honored  and  respected  in 
his  boyhood  and  occupied  an  exalted  position  in  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

In  many  respects  Colonel  Savage  was  a  self-made 
man.  Born  of  worthy  parents  who  were  possessed  of 
a  sufficiency  of  this  world's  goods  to  make  life  com- 
fortable and  pleasant,  yet  the  educational  facilities  of 
the  community  at  that  time  were  limited  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that,  aside  from  the  advantage  of  a  free  school  of 
two  or  three  months  in  the  year,  there  were  few  op- 
portunities of  obtaining  a  finished  education  at  home. 
Under  these  circumstances,  he  made  use  of  every  avail- 
able opportunity  to  acquire  knowledge,  pursuing  his 
studies  vigorously,  and  in  many  instances  without  the 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  277 

aid  of  an  instructor.  In  this  respect  he  became  a  con- 
stant reader,  a  practical  thinker,  and,  in  every  respect, 
a  practical  man.  In  boyhood,  as  in  after  years,  he  was 
plain  and  practical  in  his  opinions  and  views  on  any 
and  all  subjects,  and  the  energy  he  brought  to  bear 
upon  whatever  work  he  attempted  to  perform,  and  his 
enterprises  were  well  considered  and  attended  at  all 
times  with  signal  success.  In  the  year  1836,  when 
Santa  Anna  and  General  Sam  Houston  were  engaged 
in  war  upon  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  the  latter  to  es- 
tablish the  independence  of  Texas,  General  Gaines  was 
authorized  by  the  government  of  the  United  States  to 
enlist  volunteers  to  operate  on  the  Texas  frontier  to 
preserve  the  neutrality  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  in  that  war.  Colonel  Savage  enlisted  for  this 
service  in  a  company  commanded  by  John  B.  Rodgers, 
of  Rock  Island,  Tennessee,  and  the  command  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville,  on  its  way  to  the  Texas  frontier. 
Upon  their  arrival  at  Nashville,  news  was  received  of 
the  capture  of  Santa  Anna,  and  the  company  was  dis- 
banded, after  being  credited  with  forty  days'  service. 
When  it  was  known  that  the  services  of  this  company 
would  not  be  needed  on  the  Texas  frontier,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  volunteers  would  be  accepted  to  fight  the 
Indians  in  Florida.  General  Armstrong  was  at  Fay- 
etteville,  receiving  volunteers  for  the  Seminole  War, 
and  after  being  discharged  from  the  Texas  service  it 
was  desired  on  the  part  of  the  company  that  they 
should  offer  their  services  to  General  Armstrong  in  a 
bod)'  and  accompany  him  on  his  expedition,  but  for 
some  cause  the  matter  was  waived  by  Captain  Rodg- 
ers, and  no  further  steps  taken  in  that  direction. 

The  hesitancy  of  Rodgers  being  apparent,  the  men 
ceased  to  depend  upon  him  further  as  a  commander  in 


276  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

ground,  were  followed   through  the  city  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  "  Old  Twentieth  "  on  foot. 


COLONEL  JOHN  H.  SAVAGE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  .born  in  the  town  of 
McMinnville,  Warren  county,  Tennessee,  October  15, 
1815,  and  is  at  present  near  seventy  years  of  age.  He 
was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  near  McMinn- 
ville, and  spent  his  youth  as  a  farmer.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  persistent  student,  and,  possessed  of  great  en- 
ergy and  perseverance,  he  rapidly  acquired  a  good 
stock  of  practical  information  on  all  general  topics,  and 
an  ability  to  wield  the  same  forcibly  and  to  the  point. 
He  rose  rapidly  into  prominence  while  a  mere  youth, 
and  his  influence  was  forcibly  felt  in  whatever  cause 
he  espoused.  Possessed  of  a  true  and  sterling  integ-* 
rity,  and  a  disposition  that  bestowed  all  its  insight  and 
all  its  powers  to  the  support  and  maintenance  of  the 
right,  Colonel  Savage  was  honored  and  respected  in 
his  boyhood  and  occupied  an  exalted  position  in  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

In  many  respects  Colonel  Savage  was  a  self-made 
man.  Born  of  worthy  parents  who  were  possessed  of 
a  sufficiency  of  this  world's  goods  to  make  life  com- 
fortable and  pleasant,  yet  the  educational  facilities  of 
the  community  at  that  time  were  limited  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that,  aside  from  the  advantage  of  a  free  school  of 
two  or  three  months  in  the  yeai',  there  were  few  op- 
portunities of  obtaining  a  finished  education  at  home. 
Under  these  circumstances,  he  made  use  of  every  avail- 
able opportunity  to  acquire  knowledge,  pursuing  his 
studies  vigorously,  and  in  many  instances  without  the 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  277 

aid  of  an  instructor.  In  this  respect  he  became  a  con- 
stant reader,  a  practical  thinker,  and,  in  every  respect, 
a  practical  man.  In  boyhood,  as  in  after  years,  he  was 
plain  and  practical  in  his  opinions  and  views  on  any 
and  all  subjects,  and  the  energy  he  brought  to  bear 
upon  whatever  work  he  attempted  to  perform,  and  his 
enterprises  were  well  considered  and  attended  at  all 
times  with  signal  success.  In  the  year  1836,  when 
Santa  Anna  and  General  Sam  Houston  were  engaged 
in  war  upon  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  the  latter  to  es- 
tablish the  independence  of  Texas,  General  Gaines  was 
authorized  by  the  government  of  the  United  States  to 
enlist  volunteers  to  operate  on  the  Texas  frontier  to 
preserve  the  neutrality  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  in  that  war.  Colonel  Savage  enlisted  for  this 
service  in  a  company  commanded  by  John  B.  Rodgers, 
of  Rock  Island,  Tennessee,  and  the  command  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville,  on  its  way  to  the  Texas  frontier. 
Upon  their  arrival  at  Nashville,  news  was  received  of 
the  capture  of  Santa  Anna,  and  the  company  was  dis- 
banded, after  being  credited  with  forty  days'  service. 
When  it  was  known  that  the  services  of  this  companv 
would  not  be  needed  on  the  Texas  frontier,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  volunteers  would  be  accepted  to  fight  the 
Indians  in  Florida.  General  Armstrong  was  at  Fay- 
etteville,  receiving  volunteers  for  the  Seminole  War, 
and  after  being  discharged  from  the  Texas  service  it 
was  desired  on  the  part  of  the  company  that  they 
should  offer  their  services  to  General  Armstrong  in  a 
body  and  accompany  him  on  his  expedition,  but  for 
some  cause  the  matter  was  waived  by  Captain  Rodg- 
ers, and  no  further  steps  taken  in  that  direction. 

The  hesitancy  of  Rodgers  being  apparent,  the  men 
ceased  to  depend  upon  him  further  as  a  commander  in 


278  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

the  proposed  expedition,  and  a  portion  of  the  com- 
pany, consisting  of  Pleasant  H.  Price,  E.  M.  Mercer, 
Jo.  Robertson,  Samuel  G.  Smartt,  and  John  H.  Savage, 
met  at  General  Smartt' s  and  proceeded  to  Fayetteville, 
Tennessee,  where  they  arrived  on  July  4,  1836,  and  of- 
fered their  services  to  General  Armstrong,  and  were 
accepted.  The  companies  being  all  full,  it  was  found 
that  no  one  company  codld  receive  all  of  the  party.  P. 
H.  Price  and  E.  M.  Mercer  joined  Captain  Chandler's 
company  of  Highlanders,  and  Jo.  Robertson,  Samuel 
G.  Smartt,  and  John  H.  Savage  joined  Captain  James 
Grundy's  company.  Not  being  pleased  with  the 
branch  of  service  thus  entered,  Colonel  Savage  a  few 
days  afterward  secured  a  transfer  for  himself  and  com- 
rades, Mr.  Robertson  and  Mr.  Smartt,  to  Captain  Bill 
Lauderdale's  company  of  spies,  a  company  organized 
and  equipped  at  Fayetteville  for  this  special  branch  of 
the  service,  and  was  composed  of  select  men.  Colonel 
Savage  fired  the  first  gun  of  the  campaign,  and  serve_d 
in  this  company  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Judge  Rus- 
sel  Houston,  now  chief  attorney,  of  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  Railroad,  and  Judge  Archibald  Wright, 
formerly  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  were  both  mem- 
bers of  this  company. 

In  the  year  1837,  Colonel  Savage  commenced  the 
study  of  law  at  his  home,  and  advanced  rapidly  in  his 
studies.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839,  and  prac- 
ticed in  the  courts  of  Warren,  White,  Van  Buren,  and 
De  Kalb  counties.  Faithful  to  his  clients  and  well 
versed  in  the  law,  he  rose  rapidly  in  the  profession  and 
received  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice.  In  1841 
he  was  elected  Attorney-general  by  the  legislature, 
and  entered  upon  the  duties"  of  the  office  in  1842,  and 
his  practice  was  extended  "to  the  courts  of  Fentress, 


COLONEL    SAVAGE.  279 

Overtoil,  Jackson,  Smith,  and  Macon  counties.  Mean- 
while he  was  an  elector  for  Polk  in  1844,  and  was  op- 
posed by  the  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Bransford,  on  the  Clay 
ticket.  Colonel  Savage  served  as  Attorney-general 
until  the  .year  1847,  wnen  ne  resigned  the  office 
and  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  to  serve  in 
the  war  with  Mexico.  He  was  commissioned  major 
of  the  Fourteenth  Infantry,  and  participated  in  all  the  / 
battles  in  which  his  command  was  involved.  He  was 
severelv  wounded  while  leading  an  assault  upon  the 
Mexican  stronghold  at  Molino-del-Rey,  and,  after  this 
battle,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Eleventh  Regular  Infantry, 
composed  of  troops  from  the  States  of  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia.  This  regiment  was  in  the 
same  brigade  with  the  regiment  of  Voltigeurs,  of  which 
Joseph  E.Johnston  was  lieutenant-colonel.  Remaining 
with  the  Eleventh  Regiment  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
Colonel  Savage  returned  to  his  home  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  law  at  his  old  home.  As  a  lawyer  he  had 
an  established  reputation  among  the  people  of  the 
Mountain  District  where  he  was  familiarly  known. 
His  professional  and  military  life  having  brought  him 
so  prominently  and  favorably  before  the  people,  he  was 
called  upon  to  represent  them  in  the  Congress  of  the 
Unite<9  States,  to  which  position  he  was  triumphantly 
elected.  At  the  close  of  the  term  of  his  election  he 
was  urged  to  make  a  second  race,  and  was  re*-elected 
to  a  second  term  and  for  two  subsequent  terms,  mak- 
ing eight  years  of  service  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States. 

Possessed  of  a  large  and  extensive  knowledge  of  mil- 
itary affairs,  both  from   experience  and  from  a  careful 


280  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

study  of  the  histories  of  ancient  and  modern  wars, 
Colonel  Savage  served  for  several  years  in  Congress 
on  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  where  his  sound 
judgment  and  practical  knowledge  was  of  acknowl- 
edged benefit  to  the  law-making  power  at  Washing- 
ton, and  as  a  member  he  possessed  an  acknowledged 
influence. 

Discussing,  in  1850,  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  the  question  of  disunion,  Colonel  Savage  said: 

I  trust  I  am  not  more  fearful  than  other  men.  If  danger  comes 
I  expect  to  be  as  ready  to  meet  it  as  I  am  now  anxious  to  avoid 
it.  I  pray  to  God  that  I  may  never  again  witness  the  wild  work 
of  destruction^  called  glorious  war.  I  hope  eternal  peace  may 
bless  the  world.  With  me 

The  drying  of  a  single  tear  hath  more 

Of  honest  fame  than  shedding  seas  of  gore. 

But  for  the  remarks  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  preceded  me, 
I  should  have  thought  it  no  part  of  my  duty  to  allude  to  the 
great  question  of  slavery  now  agitating  the  country  from  center 
to  circumference,  and  threatening  a  destiny  so  dark  and  disas- 
trous. Sir,  I  have  read  somewhere  of  a  fabled  magnet,  far  in 
the  deep  blue  sea,  whose  fatal  influence  withdrew  the  nails  from 
every  vessel  that  came  within  its  sphere,  leaving  the  proud  ship 
and  its  prouder  masters  an  itfglorious  wreck  amid  the  solitude  of 
the  ocean.  Who  cannot  see  that  while  this  question  is  unsettled, 
each  hour  will  be  extracted  those  fastenings  that  bind  this  glori- 
ous confederacy  together,  until  our  proud  ship  is  left  a  shattered, 
broken,  disunited  thing,  to  sink  beneath  the  surge  of  time,  as  oth- 
ers that  have  gone  before,  with  no  voice  to  record  our  memory 
but  that  which  proclaims  our  folly.  .  .  .  But  I  want  no  such 
issue.  I  love  the  people  of  the  North.  I  have  always  felt  that  I 
would  peril  all  that  .is  dear  to  my  native  State  to  protect  from 
lawless  violence  Massachusetts'  humblest  citizen  or  most  barren 
rock.  Those  of  them  who  know  me  know  that  I  do.  I  have 
never  imagined,  nor  can  I  imagine,  how  I  could  live  out  of  the 
Union.  I  have  ever  hoped  that  our  ship  of  State,  self-poised 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  281 

upon  the  billows,  would  gather  the  tempest  in  her  sails  and  fly 
with  lightning  speed  to  the  home  of  transcendent  national  glory 
amid  the  plaudits  of  an  admiring  world.  And  for  this  I  shall 
still  be  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  except  my  honor  and  my 
right  to  be  free  and  equal  on  every  foot  of  land  beneath  the 
"  stars  and  stripes." 

Having  served  in  the  halls  of  Congress  for  eight 
years,  embracing  four  consecutive  terms,  Colonel  Sav- 
age was  nominated  for  a  fifth  race  in  1860,  and  was  op- 
posed by  William  B.  Stokes,  the  candidate  of  the 
Know  Nothing  party.  The  popularity  of  Colonel 
Savage  was  unbounded  among  the  people  of  his  dis- 
trict, and  his  record  as  a  member  was  in  every  respect 
satisfactory  to  his  constituents.  Yet  he  had  a  few  dan- 
gerous foes,  not  in  the  ranks  of  his  competitor,  but  in 
the  Democratic  ranks,  who  had  become  jealous  of  his 
popularity,  and  were  ambitious  to  occupy  his  place. 
Knowing  his  popularity,  their  policy  was  to  humiliate 
him  by  defeat  and  get  him  completely  out  of  the  way. 
To  do  this  a  few  leading  lights  of  the  party  commenced, 
first,  to  disparage  him  in  the  estimation  of  the  masses, 
and  subsequently  came  out  openly  for  Stokes,  and  in 
this  manner  his  prospects  for  re-election  were  curtailed 
until  the  election,  when  he  was  defeated  by  a  majority 
of  four  hundred  votes.  This  defeat  was  not  the  result 
of  a  dissatisfied  constituency,  but  through  the  machi- 
nations of  a  few  ambitious  Democrats  who  wished  to 

» 

succeed  him,  but  most  signally  failed  in  that  particular 
part  of  the  programme. 

About  this  time  the  storm  of  war  was  gathering  in 
the  political  horizon.  The  cloud  which  had  been  seen 
for  years  previously,  though  scarcely  as  large  as  a  man's 
hand,  had  now  spread  to  such  alarming  proportions  as 
to  begin  already  to  darken  the  land.  Its  blighting 


282  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

shadow  was  being  felt  in  every  department  of  busi- 
ness, and  a  general  distrust  seemed  to  pervade  all 
hearts.  The  presidential  election  was  over  and  the 
Republican  candidate  elected.  The  result  is  familiarly 
known  to  the  world.  War  called  into  action  the  best 
blood  of  the  nation.  From  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
and  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  general 
cry  was,  "To  arms!"  The  institutions  of  learning 
threw  open  their  doors  and  the  young  men  threw  down 
their  books  and  took  their  muskets  instead,  and  went 
forth  to  war.  The  farmer  abandoned  the  plow,  the 
mechanic  his  tools,  and  the  field  of  conflict  was  the  ob- 
jective point  of  all.  Excitement  spread  on  the  wings 
of  the  wind,  and,  in  the  South,  all  was  forgotten  save 
the  raising  and  equipment  of  troops.  A  similar  spirit 
pervaded  the  Noithern  mind  meanwhile,  and  the  whole 
country  was  on  the  eve  of  an  inevitable  conflict.  Ten- 
nessee at  this  time  was  bestowing  all  her  energies  in 
behalf  of  the  South  by  organizing  and  arming  for  the 
conflict.  Colonel  Savage  organized  the  Sixteenth 
Tennessee  Regiment  of  Infantry,  and  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  of  the  regiment  in  the  beginning  of  the 
war.  He  led  his  command  in  the  campaigns  of  West 
Virginia  during  the  first  year  of  the  war,  and  subse- 
quently in  the  campaigns  of  South  Carolina,  North 
Mississippi,  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  the 
campaigns  of  Middle  Tennessee.  At  Cheat  Mountain 
he  captured  a  whole  company  of  Federals  on  picket 
by  dashing  ahead  of  his  column  into  their  very  midst, 
and  securing  their  surrender  before  his  troops  arrived 
upon  the  scene. 

At  Perryville  he  led  his  regiment  in  the  attack  upon 
the  extreme  right  where  the  battle  was  hottest,  and  re-  - 
ceiving  two  wounds  early  in  the   engagement,  he  staid 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  283 

with  his  command,  which  fought  valiantly  to  the  close 
of  the  fight,  and  whose  casualties  aggregated  consid- 
erably over  half  its  number. 

With  similar  gallantry  his  regiment  fought  under  his 
leadership  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  and  suffered 
similar  losses.  In  this  engagement,  Colonel  Savage's 
only  brother,  Captain  L.  N.  Savage,  acting  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded. 

After  the  retreat  of  the  Confederates  from  Murfrees- 
boro to  Shelbyville,  Colonel  Savage  resigned  his  com- 
mission as  colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  bid 
adieu  to  his  men  in  a  general  address,  and  retired  from 
the  service,  much  to  the  regret  of  his  men,  who  loved 
him  as  a  commander,  and  in  whom  they  had  a  confi- 
dence so  strong  and  abiding  that  his  place  could  not 
be  successfully  filled. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Colonel  Savage  returned 
to  his  old  home  and  entered  again  upon  the  practice  of 
law.  He  was  solicited  by  the  people  to  again  repre- 
sent them  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  an 
honor  that  he  respectfully  declined,  on  the  ground  that 
he  had  no  desire  to  engage  further  in  public  life.  Kind 
and  generous  in  his  impulses*  a  friend  to  the  farmer,  a 
friend  to  the  mechanic,  the  laborer,  and  the  masses  in 
general,  he  has  the  good-will  of  his  people,  who  honor 
him  in  his  old  age,  and  as  "  The  Old  Man  of  the  Mount- 
ains" they  are  proud  of  him. 

Colonel  Savage  at  his  advanced  age  is  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  remarkably  good  health  and  a  vigorous  con- 
stitution. He  descended  from  a  long-lived  family,  his 
father  having  arrived,  at  a  ripe  old  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  his  mother  is  now  living  at  the  old  home- 
stead near  McMinnville,  in  the  enjoyment  of  good 
health  and  mental  vigor,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
five  vears. 


284  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

After  a  long  and  eventful  life  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  Colonel  Savage  is  now  enjoying  the  comforts 
of  a  handsome  competency,  the  result  of  his  long  and 
arduous  labors.  He  is  generous  to  all,  and  his  hand  is 
always  extended  to  bestow  help  to  the  unfortunate  and 
destitute.  He  has  bestowed  many  valuable  contribu- 
tions to  the  support  of  good  schools  and  the  promotion 
of  good  educational  facilities  among  his  people.  After 
a  long  and  eventful  life  of  usefulness,  he  enjoys  the 
era  of  good  feeling,  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the  ulti- 
mate outgrowth  of  war  and  devastation,  as  described 
by  the  poet: 

When  peace  on  earth  shall  hold  her  gentle  sway, 

And  man  forget  his  brother  man  to  slay, 

To  martial  arts  shall  milder  arts  succeed 

Who  blesses  most  shall  gain  the  immortal  mead; 

The  eye  of  pity  shall  be  pained  no  more 

With  Victory's  crimsoned  banner  stained  with  gore. 

Thou  glorious  era,  come!  Hail,  blessed  time! 

When  full-orbed  freedom  shall  unclouded  shine; 

When  the  chaste  muses,  cherished  by  her  lays, 

In  olive  groves  shall  tune  their  sweetest  lays, 

When  bounteous  Ceres  directs  her  car 

O'er  fields  once  blighted  by  the  fires  of  war, 

And  angels  view  in  love  and  wonder  joined 

The  golden  age  returned  to  bless  mankind. 

He  has  contributed  liberally  to  schools  and  Churches 
in  his  section  of  country,  and  for  the  amount  of  his 
wealth  there  is  not  a  man  to  be  found  in  Middle  Ten- 
nessee who  has  contributed  more  to  the  building  and 
fostering  of  educational  institutions  and  churches,  and 
other  worthy  enterprises,  than  Colonel  Savage.  The 
deserving  poor  have  shared  liberally  of  his  bounty,  and 
his  kindness  and  generosity  are  appreciated  by  his 
people,  all  of  whom  love  and  honor  him. 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  285 

Colonel  Savage  in  his  private  and  public  life  has  ever 
shown  the  admirable  traits  of  firmness  and  integrity  of 
character;  a  faithful  friend  and  an  uncompromising, 
though  kind  and  generous,  foe.  In  his  military  life  he 
was  brave  and  fearless,  and  would  fight  to  the  bitter 
end,  though  when  his  foe  gave  down,  he  showed  that 
kindness  and  consideration  for  a  fallen  or  prostrate  en- 
emy that  always  characterized  the  truly  brav^  and  fear- 
less man  and  the  true  gentleman.  At  Perry  ville,  being 
severely  wounded  and  brought  to  the  field  hospital,  he 
found  a  Federal  officer  of  his  own  rank  who  was 
wounded  and  a  prisoner,  and  whom  he  had  known  in 
public  life  before  the  war.  To  this  prisoner  he  gave 
every  assurance  of  such  attention  as  it  was  in  his  power 
to  bestow,  and  gave  directions  for  him  to  have  the  same 
attention  that  w.as  bestowed  upon  one  of  his  own  men. 

At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  when  the  battle  had 
raged  through  the  day,  and  Colonel  Savage's  regiment 
was  severely  cut  up  and  had  barely  escaped  capture  on 
the  right  of  the  railroad,  when  forced  to  fall  back  with 
the  pressure  that  hurled  back  the  brigade  that  had  been 
sent  to  his  support,  many  of  his  dead  and  wounded, 
and  a  few  others,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  At 
night  the  Federal  lines  were  changed,  and  Colonel 
Savage  went  to  the  ground  where  his  wounded  were 
left,  and  with  a  small  detail  he  proceeded  to  gather  up 
his  wounded,  many  of  whom  he  succeeded  in  finding 
and  bringing  back  to  the  rear.  While  here  he  found  a 
wounded  Federal  who  was  suffering  severely,  both 
from  his  wounds  and  the  intensity  of  the  cold.  Or- 
dering his  men  to  place  him  at  a  designated  spot 
by  a  fire,  he  proceeded  to  the  field  hospital  to  see 
his  brother,  who  was  very  severely  wounded.  Re- 
maining with  his  brother  till  a  late  hour  of  the  night, 


286  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

his  thoughts  ran  to  the  wounded  Federal  whom  he  had 
left  between  the  lines,  and  he  proceeded  again  to  hunt 
for  him,  feeling  that  he  would  not  forgive  himself 
should  he  suffer  him  to  lay  there  so  severely  wounded 
and  let  him  die  of  cold.  While  renewing  the  search, 
he  was  confronted  by  a  squad  of  armed  men  who  chal- 
lenged him,  and  as  he  could  not  tell  in  the  darkness  to 
what  army  they  belonged,  Colonel  Savage  here  felt 
that  he  was  in  a  very  awkward  position  indeed.  He 
began  to  realize  the  situation  and  to  reflect  on  the  con- 
sequences of  being  captured  in  the  enemy's  lines  at 
this  late  hour  of  the  night,  and,  without  the  object  of 
his  movement  having  being  explained,  such  a  capture 
at  such  a  time  and  place  would  have  more  of  the  ap- 
pearance of  desertion  than  capture.  In  this  perplexing 
extremity  he  returned  the  challenge,  and  resolved  upon 
the  dernier  resort  of  a  parley  with  the  armed  force  in 
his  front.  To  his  great  relief,  Colonel  Savage  found  it 
was  a  part  of  his  own  command  who  had  been  cut  off 
during  the  fight  in  the  evening,  and  were  feeling  their 
way  through  the  darkness  back  to  their  command. 
Colonel  Savage  was  recognized  by  his  voice,  which 
was  familiar  to  the  whole  command;  and,  after  mak- 
ing the  wounded  Yankee  comfortable  by  placing  him 
by  a  good  fire,  all  parties  returned  to  the  lines  unhurt. 
Thus  his  kind  impulses  in  behalf  of  a  fallen  and  suf- 
fering foe  were  the  means  of  rescuing  quite  a  number 
of  his  own  men  who  were  cut  off  by  the  enemy,  and 
whose  capture,  otherwise,  would  have  been  a  mere 
question  of  time,  as  the  lines  had  been  changed  during 
the  night,  and  the  men  would  have  found  the  enemy 
on  the  ground  where  they  expected  to  find  their  friends. 
While  Colonel  Savage  was  a  member  of  the  Ten- 
nessee Legislature,  a  bill  was  pending  which  denied 


COLONEL  SAVAGE.  287 

the  benefit  of  the  exemption  laws  of  the  State  to  pool- 
people  moving  out  of  it.  Colonel  Savage  opposed  the 
bill  in  the  following  remarks: 

Mr.  Speaker: — I  have  great  respect  for  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee  and  for  the  members  of  this  House,  but 
every  impulse  of  my  nature  rebels  against  the  spirit  and  policy 
of  this  bill.  In  my  opinion  it  is  neither  wise,  nor  humane,  nor 
merciful.  The  people  of  these  States  should  be  of  one  blood, 
one  bone,  one  flesh,  and  one  destiny.  Nor  am  I  unmindful  of 
the  still  broader  doctrines  taught  from  on  high,  that  the  human 
race  is,  or  ought  to  be,  a  universal  brotherhood,  in  which  the  poor 
man  or  woman,  to  the  remotest  bounds  of  the  earth,  is  our  neigh- 
bor and  our  friend. 

Not  only  is  this  bill  wrong  in  principle,  but  it  requires  but  little 
experience  or  imagination  to  see  that  innumerable  wrongs  and 
injuries  will  be  imposed  upon  the  unfortunate  poor,  from  which 
the  humanity  and  mercy  of  its  advocates  would  shrink  back  in 
shame.  It  is  almost  certain  that  men  as  noble  as  any -on  your 
soil  have,  in  other  days,  to  better  their  condition,  gone  to.other 
States,  and  now,  reduced  to  abject  poverty  and  want,  like  the 
prodigal  son,  would  gladly  return  to  friends,  and  kindred,  and  the 
home  of  their  youth.  It  may  be  it  is  your  sister  or  your  beauti- 
ful daughter,  or  the  daughter  of  your  neighbor,  who  has  been 
permitted  in  the  bloom  of  her  youth  to  accompany  the  man  of 
her  choice  beyond  your  borders,  has  been  stricken  in  her  family 
by  sickness,  misfortune,  and  death,  who  is  now  a  poor  widow  with 
infant  children,  without  friends,  in  a  strange  land,  pale,  emaciated, 
broken  down  in  health  as  well  as  pecuniarily.  Nature  and  neces- 
sity would  present  to  her  unhappy  mind  the  babbling  brooks, 
beautiful  flowers,  and  trusted  friends  of  her  former  home.  She 
resolves  to  return  to  father  and  mother*  and  kindred  friends  in 
Tennessee.  Perhaps  she  has  nothing  left  from  the  wreck  of  her 
husband's  fortune  but  a  half-starved  horse,  mule,  or  yoke  of  cattle , 
a  broken-down  cart,  wearing  apparel,  household  and  kitchen  fur- 
niture. It  is  death  to  stay.  Hope  points  her  onward,  and  the 
journey  is  begun;  but,  unfortunately,  she  is  in  a  State  that  has 
followed  the  example  the  Judiciary  Committee  would  have  us 
set.  Perhaps  on  the  first,  or  at  a  later  day,  before  she  reaches 


288  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

•  the  State  line,  at  the  instance  of  some  merciless  and  persistent 
creditor,  an  officer  overtakes  her  and  seizes  every  article  of  prop- 
erty, including  the  scanty  allowance  of  meat  and  bread  for  the 
journey,  leaving  the  poor  woman  and  her  children  to  perish  or 
live  on  charity.  It  is  more  important  that  men,  women  and  chil- 
dre.n  shall  live  happy  than  that  the  Shylock  shall  have  his  pound 
of  flesh. 

My  understanding  of  the  duties  of  statesmanship  forbids  my 
support  of  a  policy  that  will  often  be  used  as  a  means  to  oppress 
or  destroy  the  poor,  and  but  seldom  to  defeat  the  dishonest  debtor. 
Sir,  my  nature  and  statesmanship  must  change  before  I  can  sup- 
port the  bill. 


CAPTAIN  L.  N.  SAVAGE. 

Captain  Lucien  Napoleon  Savage,  whose  portrait 
accompanies  this  sketch,  was  born  near  McMinnville, 
Warren  county,  Tennessee,  April  2^,  1837.  His  father, 
George  Savage,  was  a  native  of  Shcnandoah  county, 
Virginia,  and  his  paternal  grandfather  owned  the  land 
upon  which  the  town  of  New  Market  was  located,  in 
Shenandoah  county,  Virginia,  and  sold  the  lots  upon 
which  the  principal  residences  of  the  place  were  built. 

Captain  Savage's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Rod- 
ham Kenner,  a  native  of  Hawkins  county,  East  Ten- 
nessee, who  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  participated  in  the  celebrated  battle  of  King's 
Mountain. 

Mr.  Kenner  also  represented  Hawkins  county  in  the 
General  Assembly  of  Tennessee,  which  sat  in  Knox- 
ville  in  the  year  1804.  Captain  Savage's  maternal  an- 
cestors were  of  English  descent,  having  emigrated 
from  Wales,  and  were  of  long-lived  stock,  every  branch 
of  the  family  being  remarkable  for  strong  constitutions 
and  more  than  ordinary  longevity. 


CAPTAIN  SAVAGE. 


289 


Captain  Savage  was  the  only  brother  of  Colonel 
John  H.  Savage,  and,  like  his  brother,  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  his  fathers  farm,  where  he  labored  through 
the  spring  and  summer  months  and  attended  the  free 
schools  in  the  fall  and  winter. 


CAPTAIN    L.    N.    SAVAGE. 


He  subsequently  entered  Burritt  College,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  foj"  a  few  years,  having  previously 
19 


290  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

attended    the    school    at    Irving    College,   in    Warren 
county,  Tennessee. 

Captain  Savage  thus  acquired  a  good  English  edu- 
cation, and  was  well  versed  in  the  classics,  in  mathe- 
matics, and  history.  In  1856  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law,  and  pursued  his  studies  with  consummate 
vigor.  In  1858  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Sparta, 
Tennessee,  in  partnership  with  T.  J.  Bradford,  Esq., 
and  practiced  in  the  courts  of  White  and  De  Kalb 
counties.  His  brother-in-law,  the  Hon.  A.  J.  March- 
banks,  being- Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  the  adjoin- 
ing counties,  Captain  Savage  withdrew  his  practice 
from  the  courts  in  Judge  Marchbanks's  circuit  on  ac- 
count of  the  relationship  between  himself  and  the 
Judge.  In  1859  he  removed  to  Smithville,  in  De  Kalb 
county,  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  law,  and  as 
a  young  lawyer  he  rose  rapidly  in  the  profession  and 
secured  a  large  practice. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  between  the  States, 
Captain  Savage  was  a  resident  of  Smithville,  where 
he  had  resided  for  two  years,  and  had  so  thoroughly 
established  himself  in  the  confidence  and  affections  of 
the  people  that  he  wa.s  called  upon  by  the  young  men 
of  his  county  to  lead  them  in  defense  of  the  cause 
which  they  had  espoused,  and  to  which  he  was  a  warm 
adherent.  Accordingly,  he  organized  a  company  of 
over  one  hundred  young  men  of  De  Kalb  county,  and 
reported  to  the  governor  of  the  State  early  in  May, 
1861,  when  his  company  was  accepted  and  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  State.  This  company  was  made 
the  first  or  senior  company  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee 
Regiment,  of  which  his  brother,  Colonel  John  H.  Sav- 
age, was  the  commanding  officer. 


CAPTAIN  SAVAGE.  291 

Captain  Savage  was  the  senior  captain  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  was  by  his  brother's  side  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns and  hard-fought  battles  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged  up  to  the  day  of  his  death.  At  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Captain  Savage  received  a  severe  flesh 
wound  early  in  the  fight,  and  upon  discovering  his 
ability  to  conceal  the  wound  and  go  on  with  his  com- 
pany in  the  fight,  he  led  his  company  to  the  end  of  the 
engagement.  While  he  was  observed  to  be  lame 
meanwhile,  and  for  some  time  subsequently,  there  were 
but  few  of  his  company  or  regiment  that  ever  knew 
that  he  was  wounded. 

At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Captain  Savage  was 
acting  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  Captain 
James  J.  Womack  was  acting  major.  The  regiment 
was  hotly  engaged  during  the  first  day's  fight  on  the 
Confederate  right  wing,  near  the  railroad.  Being 
fronted  by  an  enemy  many  times  its  number,  the  regi- 
ment was  pressed  severely  on  its  front  and  flank  by  an 
apparently  irresistible  onslaught  of  musketry  and  can- 
ister, and  the  men  of  the  regiment  were  falling  thick 
and  fast.  Colonel  Savage  had  ordered  the  regiment  to 
lie  down  and  take  shelter  behind  a  fence  that>ran  par- 
allel with  part  of  the  line.  The  men  obeyed  the  order, 
and  from  behind  their  frail  shelter  they  poured  forth  a 
constant  and  destructive  fire  into  the  ranks  of  the  ad- 
vancing foe.  While  engaged  in  this  hot  and  desperate 
encounter,  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  lost  heavily  in  offi- 
cers and  men,  including  Captain  D.  C.  Spurlock,  Com- 
pany C;  Lieutenant  R.  B.  Anderson,  Company  A, 
killed;  and  Captain  James  J.  Womack,  acting  major, 
seriously  wounded.  In  the  hottest  of  this  engagement, 
while  the  list  of  the  slain  was  so  rapidly  increasing 
under  the  fearful  and  constant  assault  of  the  enemy, 


294  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

where  a  handsojne  monument  will  soon  be  erected  over 
them  to  mark  their  final  resting-place.  Though  dead 
these  many  years,  Captain  Savage  still  lives  in  the 
hearts  and  affections  of  a  large  circle  of  relatives,  em- 
bracing the  best  families  of  the  country,  and  by  a  mul- 
titude of  friends  over  the  different  counties  of  the 
Mountain  District,  who  knew  him  but  to  love  him,  and 
who  honor  his  memory  as  a  worthy  citizen,  a  gallant 
soldier,  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  a  good  man. 


GENERAL  F.  K.  ZOLLICOFFER. 

Brigadier-general  Felix  Kirk  Zollicoffer  was  born 
May  19,  1812,  in  Maury  county,  Tennessee.  His  fa- 
ther', John  Jacob  Zollicoffer,  moved  from  North  Caro- 
lina, and  settling  in  the  rich  blue-grass  lands  of  Maury 
county,  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  who  divided  his  time 
between  attention  to  his  farm  duties  and  literary  pur- 
suits. George  Zollicoffer,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  article,  was  a  captain  in  the  North 
Carolina  line  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  family 
came  to  America  from  Switzerland,  and  is  of  ancestry 
ennobled  by  a  degree  of  Emperor  Rodolphus  II.,  dated 
October  19,  1528.  A  member  of  it  named  John  Con- 
rad Zollicoffer,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  French  army, 
threw  up  his  commission  (being  furnished  with  a  let- 
ter from  Silas  Deane,  our  first  commissioner  to  the 
French  court),  and  accepted  a  commission  from  the 
governor  of  North  Carolina,  and  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  until  he  was  taken  prisoner,  having  been 
afterward  released  on  parole.  This  old  baronial  family 
still  preserve  a  faithful  record  of  their  lineage  in  this 
country,  and  it  is  their  custom  to  keep  up  a  constant 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  295 

correspondence  with  the  American  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily. Every  marriage,  birth,  and  death,  in  the  male 
branch  of  the  family,  is  promptly  forwarded  and  re- 
corded in  the  genealogical  table  in  Switzerland.  The 
oldest  living  male  member  of  the  family  in  this  coun- 
try is  by  courtesy  called  "  the  Baron,"  and  is  in  regular 
receipt  of  a  yearly  annuity  from  Switzerland.  . 

Having  received  a  good,  plain  education,  General 
ZollicofFer's  energy  and  spirit  of  independence  led  him, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  to  rely  upon  his  own  exertions  for . 
a  subsistence.  Accordingly,  he  entered  a  printing 
office  in  Columbia,  Tennessee.  Shortly  after  he  was 
sixteen  he  formed  a  partnership  with  W.  W.  Gates 
(since  an  editor  of  prominence)  and  Amos  R.Johnson, 
(who  subsequently  became  a  lawyer,  and  was  promoted 
to  the  bench  in  Paris,  Tennessee).  Here  he  met  with 
disheartening  difficulties,  which  only  served  to  develop 
and  prove  the  pluck  and  indomitable  will  possessed  by 
him.  In  some  letters,  now  extant,  from  his  father  to 
him  at  that  time,  his  high  sense  of  honor,  and  his  de- 
termination not  to  succumb  to  the  outward  turn  of  af- 
fairs, were  much  commended.  He  also  complimented 
and  encouraged  him,  for  "  I  am  highly  pleased,"  he 
wrote,  "  with  the  appearance  of  your  paper,  and  am 
proud  to  think  that  I  have  a  son  seventeen  years  of  age 
who  can  edit  such  an  one." 

The  young  firm  becoming  financially  involved,  quit 
in  debt,  and  ZollicofFer  sought  employment,  first  in 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  under  the  veteran  editor  Heis- 
kell,  and  subsequently  in  Huntsville,  Alabama,  where 
by  hard  work,  strict  economy,  and  self-denial,  he  man- 
aged to  pay  oft'  the  whole  debt-  contracted  at  Pans — 
his  partners  subsequently  repaying  him  their  portion 
of  it.  The  printing-press  upon  which  their  first  edi- 


296  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

torial  venture  had  been  made,  was,  in  1855,  discovered 
by  the  Whigs  of  Henry  county,  from  which  they  had 
carved   a  walking-cane,  mounted  with   solid  gold,  and 
presented  it  to  ZollicofFer  as  a  testimonial.    His  literary 
tastes  were  very  fine,  and  while  still  in  his  minority  he 
was  led  occasionally  to  woo   the.  muses  in  his  leisure 
mome.nts.     One  of  his  prose  fancies,  which  abounds  in 
beautiful    word-painting,    has    been   preserved   to    the 
public  amongst  the  choice  selections  in  Field's  Scrap- 
book.     He  was  said  by  those  who  knew  him  then,  to 
be  a  model  of  neatness  and  youthful  manliness.     From 
Huntsville  he  returned  to  Maury  county,  and  located 
in  Columbia,  taking  charge  of  the  Observer  newspa- 
per.    There  he,  in   1835,  f°rilled  a  happy  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Louisa  Gordon,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  he  volunteered  as  a   soldier  and    served   as  a 
commissioned  officer  with  the  Tennessee  troops  in  the 
campaign   against  the  Seminoles   in   Florida.     He  re- 
turned  in  1837,  and   resumed  his   connection  with  the 
Observer,  and  continued  to  edit  it  with  marked  vigor 
and    ability   throughout    the    memorable   campaign   of 
1840.     He  had  a  strong  partiality  for  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  published   in  connection  with  the    Observer 
an  agricultural  journal  which  had  a  considerable.circu- 
lation,  and  the  columns  of  which   evinced   the  variety 
of  his  attainments  and  his  eminently  sound  and  prac- 
tical judgment.     The  great  energy,  boldness,  and  abil- 
ity which  he  displayed  in  the  management  of  the  Ob- 
server, made  a  decided   impression  upon   the   leading 
minds  of  the  Whig  party  in  the  State,  and  in  1841  he 
was  called  to  Nashville  to  a  place  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  Banner,  the   chief  organ  of  the  party.     He  at 
once  made  his  power  felt,   and  by  his  zealous  energy 
contributed    greatly    to     the     re-election    of  Governor 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  297 

James  C.  Jones  in  1843.  After  the  election  his  deli' 
cate  health  caused  him.  to  lay  down  the  peri;  but  he 
jwas  soon  called  to  another  field  of  labor,  the  legisla- 
ture having,  on  the  ist  of  November  following,  elected 
him  Comptroller  of  the  State.  He  was  retained  in  this 
responsible  position  until  the  spring  of  1849,  wnen  ne 
resigned.  He  went  into  the  office  without  any  infor- 
mation as  to  the  routine  of  its  business,  and  without  in- 
structions, but  his  persevering  and  untiring  purpose 
soon  mastered  the  details  of  the  bureau,  and  where  he 
found  confusion  he  introduced  system  and  order,  and 
laid  down  the  seals  of  office,  confessedly  one  of  the 
most  reliable  and  successful  comptrollers  that  had  ever 
served  the  State. 

In  August,  1849,  ne  was  chosen  to  represent  David- 
son county  in  the  State  Senate.  Here  his  powers  of 
intellect  and  self-culture  asserted  themselves,  and  the 
legislation  of  the  session  shows  that  he  made  his  mark 
in  the  Senate  and  became  a  leader  there  among  some 
of  the  finest  minds  in  the  State. 

The  year  of  1851  was  an  important  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Whig  party  of  Tennessee,  and  he  was 
again  called  to  the  helm  to  take  charge  of  the  Banner, 
•  in  the  hope  of  rallying  the  slumbering  hosts,  re-animat- 
ing their  drooping  spirits,  and  overwhelming  the_ De- 
mocracy again.  The  nomination  of  a  candidate  for 
the  chief  magistracy  of  the  State  was  eliciting  much 
discussion. 

General  ZollicofTer  favored  the  nomination  of  Gen- 
eral William  B.  Campbell,  and  exerted  his 'influence, 
which  was  now  second  to  no  Whig  leader  in  the  State, 
in  that  direction.  Devoted  to  the  Whig  cause,  and 
equally  devoted  as  a  friend  to  General  Campbell,  the 
canvass  which  followed  was  a  labor  of  lovet  He  pros- 


298  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

ecuted  it  with  untiring  energy  and  skill,  initiating  and 
carrying  out  many  of  the  measures  which  conduced  to 
its  success.  Even  when  so  ill  that  he  could  scarcely  sit 
at  his  table,  he  stuck  to  his  post  with  his  invincible 
spirit  and  indomitable  will,  triumphing  over  the  infirm- 
ities of  his  body."  A  brilliant  victory  was  the  result. 
The  canvass  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  the 
annals  of  Tennessee,  and  its  result  added  immeasurably 
to  the  influence  of  General  Zollicoffer.  When  at  its 
height,  General  Campbell  was  prostrated  by  disease, 
and  as  his  competitor,  General  Trousdale,  a  war-worn 
veteran,  was  exceedingly  popular,  the  Whigs  were  cast 
down  and  well-nigh  hopeless,  but  the  gallant  Zollicof- 
fer sprang  to  their  relief,  snatched  up  the  old  Whig 
banner,  and  bore  it  until  General  Campbell  recovered. 
In  the  following  year,  that  of  the  presidential  contest 
between  Scott  and  Pierce,  he  added  fresh  laurels  to  his 
political  career. 

On  April  30,  1853,  he  received  the  Whig  nomination 
for  Congress  in  the  Nashville  district,  and  severed  for- 
ever his  connection  writh  the  press.  Throughout  the 
six  years  in  which  he  served  in  Congress  his  votes  and 
acts  were  in  opposition  to  the  party  in  power,  and  he 
won  a  national  reputation  as  a  Southern  conservative, 
and  for  great  ability,  strict  probity  of  character,  patriot- 
ism,'purity,  and  amiability.  These  qualities  gave  him 
great  influence  as  a  ^representative.  He  was  univer- 
sally esteemed  as  an  honorable,  high-minded  gentle- 
man, whose  fidelity  to  principle  was  conspicuous,  and 
who  might  at  all  times  be  relied  upon.  He  sustained 
himself  admirably  in  debate,  and  if  he  did  not  exceed 
in  the  graces  of  rhetoric  and  oratory,  he  was  so  well 
fortified  with  impregnable  facts  that  the  readiest  and 
wiliest  adversary  had  to  look  well  to  his  cause.  His 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  299 

encounter  with  the  Hon.  A.  H.  Stephens,  of  Georgia, 
the  ablest  and  most  adroit  representative  during  the 
period  of  his  service  from  the  South,  was  a  splendid 
display  of  parliamentary  and  elevated  intellectual  war- 
fare, and  was  keenly  relished  by  the  members.  The 
distinguished  Georgian  went  out  of  the  contest  with  a 
high  appreciation  of  the  gallant  knight  whose  lance 
had  won  its  laurels.  They  afterward  enjoyed  the  most 
amicable  relations  and  became  admiring  friends — the 
great  statesman  on  a  subsequent  occasion  being  an  hon- 
ored guest  at  General  ZollicofTer's  home  in  Nashville. 

An  honorable  contemporary,  who  knew  him  well  in 
Washington  city,  thus  speaks  of  him:  "In  his  inter- 
course with  men  he  was  very  courteous  and  polite,  and 
exacted  the  same  deportment  from  others  toward  him- 
self. In  the  House  he  held  a  high  position,  and  was 
esteemed  for  the  excellence  of  his  judgment,  the  in- 
tegrity of  his  character,  and  the  firmness  with  which 
he  adhered  to  his  convictions.  He  was  a  very  modest, 
gentle,  and  dignified  man,  without  pretension,  bluster, 
or  bravado;  and  yet  he  not  only  had  commanding  in- 
fluence, but  challenged  the  respect  of  his  opponents." 

He  retired  from  political  life  in  1859,  and  remained  a 
private  citizen  until  he  was  elected  by  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Tennessee  a  commissioner  to  the  Peace  Con- 
gress. He  accepted  the  appointment,  but  came  home 
from  the  conference  sad  and  disheartened. 

Soon  after  the  secession  of  Tennessee,  a  provisional 
army  was  organized  by  the  General  Assembly,  and 
Governor  Harris  tendered  to  General  Zollicoffer  the 
commission  of  a  major-general.  He  declined  the  ap- 
pointment, giving  as  a  reason,  "  that  he  would  not  con- 
sent to  risk  by  his  inexperience  the  safety  and  reputa- 
tion of  his  fellow-citizens  of  the  volunteer  State."  He 


300  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

was,  however,  appointed  to,  and  accepted,  the  position 
of  a  brigadier-general,  which  appointment  he  after- 
ward received  from  the  Confederate  government. 
Early  in  the  summer  of  1861,  it  became  known  that 
the  Federal  army  threatened  the  invasion  of  East  Ten- 
nessee by  the  way  of  Cumberland  Gap.  To  defeat 
this  movement,  the  Confederate  government  sent  brig- 
adier-general Zollicoffer,  with  a  force  of  about  two 
thousand  men,  by  way  of  Knoxville,  to  the  point  of 
threatened  attack. 

Kentucky  was  at  this  time  endeavoring  to  occupy 
and  hold  a  neutral  positidn  in  the  civil  war.  General 
Zollicoffer,  on  September  14,  telegraphed  Governor 
McGoffin  that  "the  safety  of  Tennessee  requiring,  I 
occupy  the  mountain  passes  at  Cumberland  and  three 
long  mountains  in  Kentucky.  For  weeks  I  have 
known  that  the  Federal  commander  at  Haskins's  Cross 
Roads  was  threatening  the  invasion  of  East  Tennessee 
and  ruthlessly  urging  our  people  to  destroy  our  own 
roads  and  bridges.  I  postponed  this  precautionary 
movement  until  the  despotic  government  at  Washing- 
ton, refusing  to  recognize  the  neutrality  of  Kentucky, 
had  established  formidable  camps  in  the  center  and 
other  parts  of  the  State,  with  the  view,  first,  to  subju- 
gate your  gallant  State,  and  then  ourselves.  Tennes- 
see feels,  and  has  ever  felt,  toward  Kentucky  as  a  twin 
sister;  their  people  are  as  one  people  in  kindred,  sym- 
pathy, valor,  and  patriotism.  We  have  felt,  and  still 
feel,  a  religious  respect  for  Kentucky's  neutrality.  We 
will  respect  it  as  long  as  our  safety  will  permit.  If  the 
Federal  force  will  now  withdraw  from  their  menacing 
position,  the  force  under  my  command  shall  imme- 
diately be  withdrawn." 

General  Zollicoffer  also  issued  a  proclamation, which 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  301 

he  caused  to  be  distributed  over  the  country,  announc- 
ing that  he  came  there  to  defend  the  soil  of  a  sister 
State  against  an  invading  foe,  and  that  no  citizen  of 
Kentucky  was  to  be  molested  in  person  or  property, 
whatever  his  political  opinions,  unless  found  in  arms 
against  the  Confederate  government,  or  giving  aid  and 
comfort  to  the  enemy. 

About  the  middle  of  September  he  received  infor- 
mation that  a  camp  of  about  fifteen  hundred  Federals 
was  located  near  Barboursville,  Kentucky,  and  were 
threatening  his  position.  Accordingly,  on  September 
19,  he  dispatched  a  portion  of  his  command  to  that 
point  and  dispersed  the  camp  with  but  slight  loss.  He 
advanced  cautiously  in  the  direction  of  Somerset,  driv- 
ing the  enemy  before  him.  A  large  force  of  Federals 
under  General  Schoepf  was  sent  forward  to  meet  him. 
He  had  purposely  permitted  a  captured  Federal  officer 
to  overhear  a  conversation  between  some  of  his  staff 
officers,  which  induced  him  to  believe  that  Hardee  was 
advancing  from  Bowling  Green  with  a  view  to  falling 
on  the  flank  of  General  Schcepf.  This  officer  was 
paroled  and  mounted,  and  permitted  to  go  forward  to 
join  General  Schoepf.  His  information  was  no  sooner 
communicated  to  the  Federal  forces  than  it  produced  a 
panic,  and  was  followed  by  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Wild  Cat  Stampede."  The  frightened  soldiers  re- 
treated at  double-quick  for  miles,  while  the  route  of 
their  retreat  was  covered  with  broken  wagons,  knap- 
sacks, overcoats,  dead  horses  and  mules,  and  soldiers 
who  had  fallen  from  exhaustion. 

After  the  expedition,  General  Zollicoffer  moved  with 
a  portion  of  his  command  to  Mill  Springs,  Kentucky, 
on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Cumberland  river.  He 
soon  afterward  advanced  across  the  river  to  Camp 


302  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Beech  Grove,  fortifying  his  camp  with  earthworks, 
which  was  located  in  a  bend  of  the  river  in  the  shape 
of  a  horse-shoe.  This  was  in  January,  and  he  was  pre- 
paring to  go  into  winter  quarters.  His  cavalry  force, 
about  1,200  men,  under  command  of  Colonel  McNairy, 
was  across  the  river  in  his  rear.  Soon  after  General 
ZollicofFer  had  established  his  camp,  Major-general 
George  B.  Crittenden  arrived  and  assumed  command. 
On  the  night  of  January  18  a  heavy  rain  fell,  causing  a 
sudden  flood  in  Fishing  Creek,  a  large  stream  about 
nine  miles  from  the  Confederate  camp,  in  the  direction 
of  Somerset. 

A  citizen  of  the  neighborhood  named  Johnson  came 
into  the  camp  and  gave  information  that  two  regiments 
of  Federal  troops  had  been  cut  off  by  the  flooding  of 
the  creek.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  and  it  was  re- 
solved to  move  out  a  force  to  attack  them.  Orders 
were  given  and  preparations  made  for  a  movement  of 
the  whole  division  at  daylight  next  morning.  Pending 
these  movements  (it  has  sii^ce  been  developed)  Gen- 
eral Thomas,  of  the  Federal  army,  had  ordered  a  force 
of  eight  or  ten  thousand  men  to  Somerset,  with  a  view 
of  crossing  the  Cumberland  at  Stegall's  Ferry,  twenty- 
five  miles  above  Mill  Springs,  and  falling  in  the  rear 
of  Zollicoffer  above  Monticello,  from  which  direction 
the  Confederates  received  their  supplies.  A  portion 
of  these  troops  had  taken  up  their  line  of  march  from 
Columbia  to  Somerset  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Mill 
Springs.  The  four  regiments  across  Fishing  Creek 
were  in  expectation  hourly  of  a  new  brigade  com- 
mander, who  had  been  ordered  to  assume  the  command. 

On  Sunday  morning,  January  19,  1862,  just  before 
the  dawn  of  day,  the  Confederate  troops  moved  out 
through  a  drizzling  rain  to  attack,  as  they  supposed, 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  303 

two  regiments  of  Federals;  advancing  nine  miles  on 
the  Somerset  road,  the  Federal  pickets  were  driven  in 
a  half  mile  in  advance  of  their  already-formed  line  of 
battle.  Near  this  point  General  Zollicoffer  formed  his 
men.  On  the  left  was  placed  the  Twentieth  Tennessee, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Joel  A.  Battle;  on  the  right, 
the  Fifteenth  Mississippi,  under  command  of  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Walthall. 

The  main  body  of  the  Confederate  brigade  was  on 
the  left  of  the  Mill  Springs  road,  and  in  advancing  en- 
tered a  thick  forest  directly  in  front.  General  Zolli- 
coffer, having  ordered  the  advance  of  his  little  com- 
mand, rode  forward  with  several  of  his  staff  officers 
through  the  forest  to  inspect  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
and  passed  into  the  Mill  Springs  road  beyond  the  Fed- 
eral line  of  battle.  Discovering  his  mistake,  he  en- 
deavored to  retrace  his  route  to  his  own  command,  but 
had  proceeded  only  a  few  hundred  yards  when  he 
found  himself  directly  in  front  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky 
Federal  Regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Speed 
S.  Fry.  The  Federals,  who  were  expecting  the  arrival 
of  a  new  brigade  commander,  mistook  General  Zolli- 
coffer for  their  new  brigadier,  his  uniform  being  envel- 
oped in  an  oil-cloth  overcoat,  and  he  having  come  from 
the  direction  of  Somerset,  or  Columbia.  General  Zol- 
licoffer  quickly  discovered  his  mistake,  and,  to,  put  a 
bold  front  on  the  matter,  rode  up  to  Colonel  Fry,  and, 
after  the  usual  salutations,  started  down  the  road,  ac- 
companied by  his  staff',  in  front  of  Colonel  Fry's  com- 
mand, and  about  thirty  feet  in  advance  of  it.  He  had 
not  proceeded  far  when  Major  Henry  Fogg,*  of  his 

*  It  was  said  by  some  persons  who  were  engaged  in  this  battle 
that  it  was  Major  Ewing,  and  not  Major  Fogg,  who  fired  the  shot. 


304  SKETCHES  OF  OFEICERS. 

staff,  drew  his  pistol  and  fired  toward  the  Federal  line- 
In  a  moment  a  volley  from  the  Federal  line  was  dis- 
charged, instantly  killing  General  Zollicoffer  and  Lieu- 
tenant Evan  Shield,  and  mortally  wounding  Major 

F°gg- 

The  story  that  General  Zollicoffer  was  killed  by  Col- 
onel Fry  has  gained  general  belief,  but  there  is  very 
little  reason  to  sustain  it.  On  his  body  were  found  two- 
wounds — one  made  with  a  musket  ball,  which  was 
mortal,  and  another  by  a  pistol  shot,  which  produced  a 
severe,  but  not  a  mortal,  wound.  If  Colonel  Fry  firedr 
and  his  ball  lodged  in  General  Zollicoffer's  body,  it  was 
not  the  missile  that  caused  his  death,  this  having  been 
the  result  of  the  musket  shot.  In  the  meantime  the 
hostile  forces  were  hotly  engaged,  the  battle  lasting 
from  sunrise  until  about  noon.  The  Confederates 
fought  with  a  devotion  never  excelled  by  soldiers  on 
any  battle-field;  nearly  half  of  the  Mississippi  regi- 
ment fell  in  the  action,  while  the  mortally  wounded  of 
Colonel  Battle's  command  was  very  great. 

Thus -fell  Felix  K.  Zollicoffer.  A  Federal  officer 
who  had  known  him  in  Washington,  and  who  looked 
upon  him  dead  on  the  field,  said  that  "  his  face  bore  no- 
expression  such  as  is  usually  found  upon  those  who  fall 
in  battle — no  malice,  no  reckless  hate,  not  even  a 
shadow  of  physical  pain.  It  was  calm,  placid,  noble. 
I  never  looked  upon  a  countenance  so  marked  with 
sadness.  A  deep  dejection  had  settled  upon  it.  The 
lines  of  care  of  the  mouth  were  distinct  in  the  droop 
at  the  corners,  and  the  thin  cheeks  showed  the  wasting 
which  comes  through  disappointment  and  trouble." 

One  of  his  early  friends  and  associates,  who  had 
known  him  well,  thus  wrote  of  him  soon  after  his  un- 
timely death:  "How  he  fulfilled  the  expectation  of  a 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  305 

people  who  long  entertained  such  exalted  confidence 
in  his  courage  and  capacity,  and  redeemed  the  impres- 
sions of  the  thousands  of  young  hearts  around  him, 
many  of  whose  first  notions  of  chivalry  were  derived 
from  his  daring,  need  not  be  repeated.  Up  to  the  hour 
of  his  fall,  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  whose  adoration 
marks  a  volume  of  suggestive  eulogy,  and  answers 
every  question,  nothing  but  an  affectionate  faith  at- 
tended him.  He  was  the  model  and  pattern  of  integ- 
rity and  manhood.  Although  a  civilian,  his  military 
qualifications  received  the  most  general  trust;  what  he 
lacked  in  experience  he  could  make  up  in  bravery  being 
the  prevailing  feeling;  and  this  is  more  than  sustained 
by  the  circumstance  of  his  death." 

One  of  the  most  exquisite  little  poems,  called  forth 
by  the  tragedies  of  these  four  years'  war,  was  written 
by  the  gifted  Henry  Flash,  to  commemorate  the  death 
of  General  Zollicoffer.  It  is  as  follows: 

"ZOLLICOFFER." 
First  in  the  fight,  and  first  in  the  arms 

Of  the  white-winged  angel  of  glory, 
With  the  heart  of  the  South  at  the  feet  of  God, 

And  his  wounds  to  tell  the  story. 

For  the  blood  that  flowed  from  his  hero  heart 
On  the  spot  where  he  nobly  perished, 

Was  drank  by  the  earth  as  a  sacrament 
In  the  holy  cause  he  cherished. 

In  heaven  a  home  with  the  brave  and  blest, 

And  for  his  soul's  sustaining 
The  apocalyptic  smile  of  Christ — 

And  nothing  on  earth  remaining 

But  a  handful  of  dust  in  the  land  of  his  choice 

And  a  name  in  song  and  story — 
And  Fame  to  shout  with  her  brazen  voice, 

"  He  died  on  the  field  of  glory." 
20 


306  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

At  his  fall  a  wail  went  up  from  over  the  whole 
South,  each  household  seeming  to  feel  as  if  death  had 
crossed  its  special  threshold — and  even  the  enemy  ap- 
peared regretfully  subdued  as  if  they  were  reluctant  to 
proclaim  such  a  victory,  and  by  tender  respect  to  the 
inanimate  body  of  the  fallen  chieftain,  sending  it  by 
flag  of  truce  to  his  people  and  his  family,  there  to  re- 
ceive in  burial  every  honor  that  a  loved  and  sorrowing 
city  could  bestow,  showed  a  sympathy  and  apprecia- 
tion of  his  merits  not  often  bestowed  by  one  hostile 
army  to  the  head  of  another.  His  qualities  as  a  public 
character  were  well  known,  but  there  was  a  gentler 
side  to  his  character  known  only  to  those  who  clustered 
about  his  family  fireside.  To  them  he  was  indulgent, 
confiding,  and  affectionate.  His  attachment  to  his 
children  was  strong,  deep,  and  tender,  and  was  repaid 
by  a  devotion  almost  amounting  to  idolatry,  and  as 
beautiful  and  pure  as  it  was  undying.  His  loving  and 
loved  wife  had  died  in  1857. 

In  the  preliminary  report  of  the  battle  of  Fishing 
Creek,  dated  Greensboro,  Tennessee,"^anuary  29,  1862, 
General  G.  B.  Crittenden  says:  "I  am  pained  to  make 
report  of  the  death  of  Brigadier-general  F.  K.  Zolli- 
coffer,  who  fell  while  gallantly  leading  his  brigade 
against  the  foe.  In  his  fall  the  country  has  sustained  a 
great  loss.  In  counsel  he  has  always  shown  wisdom, 
and  in  battle  braved  dangers,  while  coolly  directing  the 
movements  of  his  troops." 

His  regular  report  was  made  without  the  benefit  of 
any  subordinate  reports,  except  those  of  General  Will- 
iam H.  Carroll  and  Major  Horace  Rice,  of  the  Twen- 
ty-ninth Tennessee,  and  under  peculiarly  embarrassing 
circumstances.  General  Crittenden  has,  without  in- 
tention, made  several  important  mistakes,  as  any  one 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  307 

•who  will  carefully  examine  the  records  and  testimony 
in  regard  to  this  battle,  will  readily  perceive.  The 
•writer  has  no  censure  for  General  Crittenden  or  for 
any  of  the  officers  and  men  engaged.  Many  of  the 
troops  had  never  been  under  fire,  and  the  greater  num- 
ber of  the  officers  were  wholly  unfamiliar  with  military 
affairs,  and  every  command,  without  exception,  engaged 
in  that  disastrous  affair,  afterward  achieved  reputation 
for  bravery  and  soldierly  conduct.  But  in  the  light  of 
history,  it  is  proper  to  endeavor  to  find  out  and  record 
the  real  facts  of  the  great  events  of  the  late  war  with- 
out partiality  or  undue  censure. 

The  plan  of  the  battle,  as  arranged  by  General  Crit- 
tenden, appears  to  have  been  well  conceived,  and  the 
reports  show  that  the  surprise  was  complete.  Nearly 
all  of  the  Confederate  troops,  as  before  remarked,  were 
raw  recruits  who  had  never  before  been  in  action,  and 
a  majority  of  the  officers  were  unfamiliar  with  their 
duties.  The  same  troops  who  on  that  day  retreated  in 
disorder,  in  subsequent  engagements  fought  as  bravely 
and  as  well  as  the  oldest  veterans. 

The  two  commands  which,  by  official  reports,  were 
most  conspicuous,  and  bore  the  heaviest  part  of  the 
battle  on  the  Confederate  side,  were  the  Fifteenth  Mis- 
sissippi Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-colonel 
(afterward  Major-general)  E.  C.  Walthall,  and  the 
Twentieth  Tennessee,  commanded  by  Colonel  Joel  A. 
Battle. 

The  Fifteenth  Mississippi  Regiment,  under  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Walthall,  followed  by  the  Twentieth  Tenr 
nessee,  Colonel  Battle,  under  orders  which  they  had 
received,  moved  forward  toward  the  enemy  and  soon 
encountered  their  pickets,  who  opened  a  brisk  fire, 
severely  wounding  Captain  C.  G.  Armistead,  who 


308  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

accompanied  Colonel  Walthall,  and  a  number  of 
others. 

The  Federal  forces  were  encamped  on  both  sides  of 
the  road,  having  in  their  front  a  thick  growth  of  woods- 
averaging  half  a  mile  in  extent.  Fronting  this  wood 
were  open  fields  in  which  there  was  a  slight  elevation 
or  ridge.  Colonel  Walthall  moved  his  command 
through  the  open  field,  crossing  the  ridge,  and  met  a 
force  of  the  Federals  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.  This 
force  was  the  Fourth  Kentucky  Regiment.  A  fierce 
encounter  at  once  commenced,  and  the  Fourth  Ken- 
tucky showing  signs  of  giving  way,  it  was  re-enforced 
by  the  Tenth  Indiana  Regiment.  Soon  afterward 
Walthall's  command  was  joined  by  the  Twentieth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  and  the  fight  continued.  This- 
was  the  most  advanced  position  gained  or  occupied  by 
the  Confederate  troops  during  the  entire  engagement. 

At  that  early  period  many  of  the  Confederate  troops 
wore  blue  uniforms,  and  General  Crittenclen  had  given 
warning  of  this,  and  had  adopted  a  pass-word  by 
which  Confederate  troops  could  recognize  their  own 
forces.  When  Walthall  was  advancing  through  the 
open  fields  toward  the  woods,  his  skirmishers  told  him 
that  the  force  in  his  front  was  the  Twentieth  Tennessee 
Regiment,  Colonel  Battle.  The  morning  was  cloudy 
and  the  troops  in  front  could  not  be  clearly  distin- 
guished. To  make  sure  that  he  was  not  firing  on 
friends,  he  ordered  his  command  to  lie  down,  and,  go- 
ing forward,  followed  by  Lieutenant  Harrington  (with- 
.out  Walthall's  knowledge),  he  hailed  the  troops  in 
front,  and  inquired  who  they  were.  The  answer  was 
"Kentucky."  This  was  the  pass- word  which  General 
Crittenden  had  given  out.  He  repeated  his  question 
and  received  the  same  answer.  Returning  to  his  line, 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  309 

he  took  the  regimental  colors  and  proceeded  again  to 
the  front,  and  repeated  the  question,  and  receiving  the 
same  reply,  he  unfurled  his  colors,  when  a  volley  was 
at  once  opened  upon  him  from  the  Fourth  Kentucky.* 
killing  Lieutenant  Harrington,  but  leaving  Walthall 
untouched.  The  flag  was  penetrated  by  a  number  of 
balls  and  the  staff  cut  in  two. 

Walthall  then  ordered  his  men  to  open  fire,  and  soon 
drove  their  antagonists  from  unde*"  their  cover,  and 
caused  them  to  fall  back  a  considerable  distance,  when 
they  were  re-enforced  by  the  Tenth  Indiana,  and  the 
struggle  was  renewed;  Battle  at  this  time,  with  the 

*The  following  statement  is  from  Dr.  Edward  Richardson,  a 
well-known  physician  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  then  surgeon  of 
the  Twelfth  Kentucky  (Union)  Infantry: 

"  My  regiment,  in  company  with  the  First  and  Second  Ten- 
nessee Infantry,  reached  Logan's  farm,  the  scene  of  the  conflict, 
Thursday,  January  16.  We  had  no  tents,  and  were  therefore  not 
noticed  by  Johnson,  the  Confederate,  who  reported  our  numbers 
to  Zollicoffer.  We  found  there  in  camp  upon  our  arrival  the  Sec- 
ond Minnesota,  Tenth  Indiana,  and  Ninth  Ohio.  The  Fourth 
Kentucky,  under  Colonel  Speed  Fry,  with  a  few  hundred  of 
Wblford's  cavalry,  joined  us  on  Saturday,  the  iSth.  The  picket 
firing  began  about  daylight  Sunday  morning.  It  was  misty  and 
dark,  with  occasional  showers.  The  first  regiment  of  infaiitrv 
-which  met  the  rebels  was  the  Tenth  Indiana.  They  were  forced 
back,  and  were  reinforced  by  the  Fourth  Kentucky  and  Second 
Minnesota.  These  three,  with  Stanard's  battery,  did  most  of  the 
fighting.  By  the  time  my  regiment  was  well  in  line  the  Confed- 
erates were  falling  back.  I  reached  the  body  of  Zollicoffer  a  few 
minutes  after  he  fell,  the  spot  not  being  more  than  twenty  feet 
in  front  of  our  line.  He  was  quite  dead,  and  so  was  Bailey  Pey- 
ton, who  lay  near  him.  His  body  was  penetrated  bv  several  pis- 
tol balls  from  the  rear,  and  by  a  minnie  ball  which  went  clear 
through,  from  side  to  side.  I  have  the  General's  gum  coat  now, 
and  would  like  to  send  it  to  some  of  his  family." 


310.  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Twentieth  Tennessee,  coming  up  to  WalthalFs  aid,, 
and  forming  on  his  right.  A  fierce  engagement  ensued 
at  the  forks  of  the  road,  to  which  the  Federals  had 
been  driven,  and  where  the  Fourth  Kentucky  and 
Tenth  Indiana  were  supported  by  Wolford's  Ken- 
tucky Cavalry,  and  subsequently  by  the  Ninth  Ohia 
Infantry. 

The  entire  Federal  line  was  driven  back,  but  was 
re-enforced,  and  a  Federal  regiment  having  gained  the 
left  of  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi,  and  the  Nineteenth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  which  was  on  Walthall's  left, 
having  been  forced  to  retire,  Colonel  Walthall  with- 
drew his  command. 

On  the  open  space  on  the  left  of  Walthall's  com- 
mand General  Zollicoffer  was  killed. 

The  Nineteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel  D.  H. 
Cummings,  re-enforced  the  Fifteenth  Mississippi  and 
Twentieth  Tennessee  in  the  heat  of  the  fight,  and  was 
engaged  with  the  Fourth  Kentucky  under  cover  of  the 
woods,  but  was  subsequently  flanked  and  forced  to- 
retire.  Rutledge's  battery,  though  placed  in  position, 
did  not  fire  a  gun,  having  been  ordered  to  retire  with- 
out being  brought  into  action.  The  right  of  the  Fed- 
erals pressed  closely  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  Confed- 
erates, and  suffered  comparatively  but  small  loss,  owing 
to  the  disparity  in  their  arms,  the  Confederates  having 
mostly  flint-lock  muskets  of  old  patterns,  while  the 
Federals  were  armed  with  the  latest-improved  long- 
range  guns. 

When  the  Confederate  line  gave  way  it  made  its  re- 
treat without  pursuit  from  the  Federals.  Walthall  held 
the  right  of  the  Confederate  line,  until  Battle,  com- 
manding the  Twentieth  Regiment,  formed  on  his  right, 
and  held  General  S.  P.  Carter's  brigade  in  check,  until 


GENERAL  ZOLLICOFFER.  311 

Carter,  pressing  on  his  flank,  forced  him  to  retire. 
The  Twentieth  Tennessee  and  Fifteenth  Mississippi 
Regiments  left  the  field  together  and  narrowly  escaped 
capture.  Colonel  Walthall,  finding  a  regiment  of  Fed- 
erals across  his  line  of  retreat,  and  almost  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  a  superior  force,  moved  to  the  rear  with 
his  own  immediate  command  and  a  portion  of  Battle's 
regiment,  under  command  of  Captain  Rice. 

Colonel  William  Preston  Johnston,  in  his  life  of  his 
father,  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  reviewing  the 
battle  of  Fishing  Creek,  says:  "The  Mississippi  Regi- 
ment and  Battle's  Twentieth  Tennessee  had  borne  the 
brunt  of  the  day.  The  former  had  lost  over  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty  men,  out  of  four  hundred  who  had 
gone  into  battle.  The  Twentieth  Tennessee  lost  half 
as  many  more,  those  two  regiments  suffering  over  three 
fourths  of  all  the  casualties  on  that  day.  They  had 
the  advance  and  were  better  armed  than  the  other 
troops.  But  had  they  been  supported  by  the  remain- 
der of  the  column  with  half  the  valor  and  determina- 
tion which  the  same  troops  subsequently  exhibited  on 
other  fields,  the  result  would  probably  have  Vjeen  dif- 
ferent. Their  inferior  arms,  want  of  discipline,  bad 
handling,  and  fatigue,  sufficiently  account  for  their  ill 
success." 

The  table  of  casualties  in  killed  in  eight  Confederate 
regiments  (some  of  them  very  large),  including  cav- 
alry and  artillery,  shows  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
killed,  of  which  forty-four  were  in  the  Fifteenth  Mis- 
sissippi Regiment;  three  hundred  and  nine  wounded, 
of  which  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  were  in  the  Fif- 
teenth Mississippi  Regiment,  and  twenty-nine  missing 
out  of  ninety-nine. 

In  General  William  H.  Carroll's  command  twenty- 


312  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

eight  were  killed  and   forty-six  wounded    in  this  bri- 
gade. 

In  the  Twentieth  Tennessee  Regiment  the  killed 
were  thirty-three,  wounded  fifty-nine,  and  missing 
eighteen.  These  figures  show  clearly  what  commands 
bore  the  brunt  of  the  battle. 

About  a  half  mile  from  the  point  where  Colonel 
Walthall  left  the  field  with  the  remnant  of  his  com- 
mand, he  was  joined  by  Captain  H.  Rice  with  a  por- 
tion of  Colonel  Battle's  Twentieth  Tennessee  Regi- 
ment. These  commands  moved  toward  their  former 
camps  several  miles,  where  they  met  a  battalion  of  cav- 
alry which  had  been  ordered  to  take  up  the  disabled 
men,  and  assist  them  in  getting  into  camp.  One  com- 
pany of  cavalry  remained  in  the  rear  of  the  command 
a  short  time  after  Captain  Rice  joined  Colonel  Wal- 
thall, but  soon  passed  to  the  front  in  the  direction  of 
the  camp. 

From  the  time  that  Colonel  Walthall  and  Captain 
Rice,  commanding  a  portion  of  Battle's  regiment,  took 
the  road  toward  the  camp,  they  did  not  meet  any  com- 
mand of  part  of  infantry,  except  the  short  time  when 
the  cavalry  company  moved  in  the  rear.  This  com- 
mand had  no  rear-guard  on  its  retrograde  movement, 
except  such  as  was  furnished  from  its  own  men. 

After  crossing  the  river,  Colonel  Walthall's  com- 
mand marched  in  order  without  straggling,  and  it  pre- 
served its  organization  perfectly  throughout  the  whole 
retreat. 

In  thus  recording  the  eminent  services  of  Walthall's 
and  Battle's  commands  in  the  battle  of  Fishing  Creek, 
no  disparagement  is  intended  to  the  other  commands 
in  that  engagement.  Those  who  failed  to  earn  laurels 
on  that  occasion  earned  them  afterward,  and  it  is 


GENERAL  CHEATHAM. 


deemed  due  to  the  truth  of  history  to  make  the  record 
which  is  here  written. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  B.  F.  CHEATHAM. 

The  following  sketch  of  General  B.  F.  Cheatham  is 
from  the  pen  of  ex-Governor  James  D.  Porter,  and  is 
copied  from  the  National  Illustrated  Magazine: 

B.  F.  Cheatham  was  born  in  Nashville,  October  20, 
1820.  He  was  the  son  of  Leonard  P.  Cheatham,  post- 
master at  Nashville  under  President  James  K.  Polk's 
administration.  His  mother  was  Elizabeth  Robertson, 


314  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

the  granddaughter  of  General  James  Robertson,  the 
pioneer  of  Middle  Tennessee  and  the  founder  of  the 
present  city  of  Nashville. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  in  1846,  he 
was  among  the  first  of  the  young  Tennesseans  to  re- 
spond to  the  call  for  volunteers.  He  commanded  a 
company,  the  Nashville  Blues,  in  Colonel  William  B. 
Campbell's  (First)  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers. 
He  shared  its  perils  and  followed  its  fortunes  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Monterey,  September,  1846;  Vera  Cruz.  March, 
1847;  and  Cerro  Gordo,  April,  1847.  ^-t  tne  battle  of 
Monterey  his  gallantry  was  conspicuous,  and  his  action 
then  as  a  youthful  captain  was  significant  of  his  fut- 
ure career. 

Judge  Robertson,  one  of  the  historians  of  the  war 
with  Mexico,  states  when  the  order  was  given  for  the 
First  Tennessee  to  assault  the  fort  at  Monterey.  '•  Cheat- 
ham,  catching  the  order,  sprang  forward  to  the  charge,, 
crying,  'Come  on,  men,  and  follow  me!"' 

In  his  subsequent  career,  as  commander  of  a  regi- 
ment, brigade,  division,  and  corps,  his  troops  were 
stimulated  by  his  presence  and  with  the  knowledge 
that  he  was  there  to  lead  them,  not  recklessly  to  a 
fruitless  slaughter,  but  execute  orders,  whatever  might 
be  the  cost. 

So  distinguished  were  his  services  in  the  field,  and 
so  marked  was  the  impression  his  strength  of  charac- 
ter made  upon  all,  that  in  March,  1847,  ^e  was  unani- 
mously  elected  colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment  Tennes- 
see Volunteers.  On  its  arrival  at  Vera  Cruz,  in  No- 
vember, 1847,  it  was  brigaded  by  General  William  O. 
Butler  with  Colonel  James  H.  Lane's  Fifth  Regiment 
of  Indiana  Volunteers. 

As  the  commander  of  this  brigade  he  was   intrusted 


GENERAL  CHEATHAM.  315 

_ — , 

with  the  responsible  charge  of  conveying  through  a 
broken  country,  invested  by  guerillas,  the  trains  that 
carried  supplies  for  Scott's  army. 

At  the  end  of  the  Mexican  war,  crowned  with  honor 
and  beloved  by  all  his  comrades,  he  resumed  the  pur- 
suits of  peace,  and  with  characteristic  energy  devoted 
himself  to  the  improvement  of  his  estate. 

More  than  a  decade  passed,  and  again  there  was  a 
call  to  arms.  The  old  soldier  who  had  followed  his 
country's  flag  over  the  embattled  plains  of  Mexico, 
who,  with  the  joyous  glow  of  youthful  enthusiasm, 
had  seen  it  so  often  wave  in  victory,  was  called  upon 
to  draw  his  sword  against  it.  All  the  proud  memories 
of  early  days  protested.  A  loyalty  that  had  been  bap- 
tized with  fire  at  Monterey  and  Cerro  Gordo  cried  out 
against  it.  But  he  did  not  hesitate,  though,  like  Leer 
he  deeply  regretted  the  necessity  that  forced  upon  him 
a  choice  of  evils. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil  war,  in  April,  1861, 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Isham  G.  Harris  a  brig- 
adier-general in  the  Provisional  Army  of  Tennessee. 
After  the  transfer  of  the  State  forces  to  the  Confeder- 
acy, he  was  appointed  by  President  Davis  to  the  same 
position  in  the  Confederate  States  Army.  On  the  8th 
of  March,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major- 
general. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Provisional  Army  of  Ten- 
nessee, he  was  active,  and  established  the  camp  of  in- 
struction at  Union  City,  where  he  trained,  disciplined, 
and  equipped  one  of  the  finest  bodies  of  troops,  of  all 
arms  of  the  service,  engaged  in  the  war.  While  in 
command  of  this  camp,  General  Cheatham  exhibited 
other  great  qualities  outside  of  those  of  the  mere 
technical  soldier.  The  public  mind  was  in  a  state  of 


316  SKETCHES,  OF  OFFICERS. 

A. 

ferment.  Liberal  men  became  violent  and  intolerant. 
Appeals  were  made  to  him  daily  for  the  arrest  of  citi- 
zens suspected  of  disloyalty  to  the  South.  These 
appeals  were  frequent  and  persistent,  but  he  had  one 
answer  to  all:  "This  is  a  free  country.  Men  must  not 
be  disturbed  because  of  their  opinions.  If  they  are 
not  in  accord  with  us,  all  we  can  ask  of  them  is  to  do 
no  act  of  hostility  during  their  residence  inside  of  our 
lines.  But  I  will  not  permit  arrests  for  opinion's  sake 
and  when  the  government  of  my  choice  requires  it  of 
me,  I  will  abandon  her  service." 

The  district  commanded  by  him  contained  a  large, 
per  cent,  of  Union  men,  and  this  policy  won  many  of 
them  to  our  ranks  and  secured  the  good  will  of  all. 

General  Cheatham  was  one  of  the  most  provident  of 
soldiers.  He  was  always  on  the  lookout  for  clothing, 
for  shoes,  and  for  all  possible  comforts  for  his  com- 
mand. The  result  was  that  his  division  was  the  best 
equipped  one  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  If  a  surplus 
of  any  material  was  assigned  to  him,  it  was  sent  to  the 
rear  in  chai'ge  of  a  disabled  man  until  it  was  needed. 
His  hospital  stores  were  the  subject  of  his  greatest 
watchfulness,  and  were  always  in  readiness.  At  Chick- 
amauga,  when  the  army  began  to  maneuver  for  posi- 
tion, his  field  hospital  was  located,  and  it  was  the  only 
one  on  the  Confederate  side  approaching  complete- 
ness. It  was  so  extensive  and  well  arranged  that  com- 
plaint was  made  at  army  head-quarters  that  Cheatham 
had  appropriated  the  stores  of  the  army,  when  the-fact 
was  he  had  simply  taken  care  of  what  had  been  al- 
lotted to  him  from  time  to  time.  The  list  of  killed  and 
wounded  at  Chickamauga  numbered  nineteen  hun- 
dred. There  was  a  place  for  every  one  of  the  wounded 
at  the  field  hospital — not  one  was  sent  to  the  rear. 


GENERAL  CHEATHAM.  317 

-They  were   cared   for  on  the  field,  and  the  per  cent,  of 
deaths  was  insignificant. 

Cheatham  commanded  his  own  division  in  the  fullest 
sense.  He  had  an  eye  to  the  quartermaster,  commis- 
sary, and  medical  departments,  and  was  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  details  and  want  of  each,  arid  reg- 
ulated them  all.  The  men  observed  this,  and  very 
soon  were  so  identified  with  him  in  feeling  and  sym- 
pathy, that  they  knew  no  organization  but  his  division, 
and  to  this  day  the  veterans  of  his  command  will  tell 
you  that  they  belonged  to  Cheatham's  division,  never 
mentioning  brigade  or  regiment.  In  action  he  fought 
them  as  one  organization,  and  always  had  their  trust 
and  confidence.  They  learned  at  the  outset  of  the  war 
that  he  had  no  ambition  to  gratify  beyond  the  discharge 
of  duty,  and  that  he  would  never  sacrifice  the  life  of  a 
single  soldier  to  advance  himself. 

General  Cheatham  moved  his  command -to  New 
Madrid,  Missouri,  in  August,  and,  after  a  few  weeks, 
under  orders  from  General  Polk,  he  took  possession  of 
Hickman,  Kentucky,  and,  in  a  few  days  thereafter,  oc- 
cupied Columbus,  Kentucky.  The  autumn  of  1861  and 
the  following  winter  were  spent  in  fortifying  Colum- 
bus and  in  the  drill  and  discipline  of  the  troops.  The 
battle  of  Belmont  was  fought  in  November,  1861.  Gen- 
eral Pillow  was  in  active  command  of  the  troops. 
General  Grant  captured  Pillow's  artillery  and  forced 
him  to  fall  back.  Cheatham  was  ordered  across  the 
river  with  a  command.  He  reformed  several  regi- 
ments and  led  them  forward  to  the  attack,  and  gave 
the  Federal  troops  the  impulse  to  retreat  and  abandon 
the  field. 

At  the  battle  of  Belmont,  after  the  Federal  forces 
had  been  driven  from  the  field,  two  of  General  Cheat- 


318  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

ham's  regiments,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  Preston 
Smith  commanding,  and  Colonel  A.  K.  Blythe's  Mis- 
sissippi regiment,  having  crossed  the  river  and  joined 
him,  he  was  ordered  by  Major-general  Polk  to  follow 
up  the  retreating  Federals  under  General  Grant,  and 
attack  the  gun-boats  and  transports.  After  arriving 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  boats,  he  came  upon  a  double 
log  house,  standing  back  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
road,  then  occupied  by  the  Federals  as  a  hospital.  At 
the  gate  he  found  two  Federal  surgeons  mounted  upon 
two  fine  stallions,  one  a  black,  the  other  a  gray.  Just 
at  this  time  two  officers — one  with  his  overcoat  on,  the 
other  with  his  coat  on  his  arm — came  out  of  the  hos- 
pital and  ran  toward  a  corn  field  and  jumped  the  fence 
and  disappeared  in  the  corn  field.  When  they  first 
ran  out  of  the  house  twenty  or  thirty  men  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty- fourth  Tennessee,  who  were  in 
front,  cocked  their  guns  and  commenced  aiming  at  the 
officers  as  they  ran  toward  the  corn  field.  General 
Cheatham  immediately  ordered  them  not  to  fire  on  any 
stragglers,  as  his  orders  were  to  follow  up  and  attack 
the  gun-boats.  On  the  next  day  he  met  under  a  flag 
of  truce,  where  each  party  was  burying  the  dead,  Col- 
onel Hatch,  who  was  at  that  time  General  Grant's  quar- 
termaster. Colonel  Hatch  asked  General  Cheatham  if, 
on  yesterday  when  he  was  talking  to  the  surgeons  at 
the  gate  in  front  of  the  hospital,  he  recollected  seeing 
two  men  run  out  of  the  hospital,  one  with  his  over- 
coat on,  the  other  with  his  overcoat  on  his  arm.  The 
General  replied  that  he  did,  and  that  the  front  com- 
pany drew  their  guns  upon  them,  and  were  in  the  act 
of  firing  upon  them  when  the  General  ordered  them  to 
•desist.  Colonel  Hatch  then  informed  the  General  that 


GENERAL    CHEATHAM.  319 

the  two  men  referred  to  were  General  Grant  and  him- 
self. A  few  days  afterward  General  Cheatham  and 
General  Grant  met  on  a  steamboat  under  a  flag  of  truce. 
General  Cheatham  asked  General  Grant  if  what  Colo- 
nel Hatch  told  him  in  regard  to  the  two  officers  leaving 
the  hospital  was  correct.  General  Grant  answered 
that  it  was.  General  Cheatham  has  always  believed 
that  the  two  fine  horses  that  the  surgeons  were  on  be- 
longed to  General  Grant  and  Colonel  Hatch.  He  has 

o 

also  believed  that  General  Grant  was  the  last  one  of 
the  Federals  to  get  on  board  their  boats. 

General  Cheatham  continued  his  march,  and  within 
half  a  mile  came  upon  the  boats.  The  water  being 
low  they  were  completely  hidden  under  the  river 
banks,  nothing  being  seen  but  their  smoke-stacks. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Marcus  J.  Wright,  who  was  in 
command  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty -fourth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  in  his  report  of  the  battle  of  Bel- 
mont,  says:  ....  ;' We  moved  from  here  through  a 
corn  field  fronting  the  enemy's  fleet  of  boats.  Colonel 
Smith  leading  the  line  until  we  came  to  a  lane  dividing 
the  field,  and  which  led  to  the  enemy's  boats,  the  left 
wing  of  the  regiment,  under  General  Cheatham,  hav- 
ing filed  around  the  field  and  taken  position  on  the 
left  and  up  the  river.  As  we  passed  down  the  lane 
I  observed  an  officer  mounted,  and  in  front  of  the 
boats,  and  evidently  urging  the  rapid  embarkation  of 
the  troops.  I  ordered  the  men  to  reserve  their  fire  until 
Colonel  Smith  should  have  placed  the  leading  compa- 
nies in  position  on  the  light,  which  he  immediately 
<lid,  and  a  volley  of  well-directed  musketry  was  im- 
mediately opened  by  the  leading  companies  upon  the 
boats.  I  ordered  the  companies  in  the  rear  to  pass 
around  rapidly  and  take  position  in  line  and  commence 


320  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

firing.  This  order  was  promptly  executed.  The  fire 
was  at  once  returned  by  volleys  of  musketry  from  the 
boats,  and  rapid  discharges  of  grape,  canister  and  shell 
from  the  gun-boats.  The  fire  was  kept  up  on  both 
sides  with  very  little  cessation  for  about  an  hour, 
when  the  boats  having  succeeded  in  cutting  their  ca- 
bles, moved  out  under  cover  of  the  gun-boats.  As 
the  gun-boats  ascended  the  river  they  continued  their 
fire,  and  their  new  position  giving  them  a  better  range 
of  shot,  Colonel  Smith  ordered  us  to  fall  back  to  the 
field  on  the  right." 

The  first  gun-boat  fight  on  the  Mississippi  river  was 
between  the  Confederate  boat  "Jackson,"  under  Com- 
modore   ,  and  the  Federal  boat  "Lexington," 

at  Hickman,  Ky.  General  Cheatham  was  present  and 
engaged  in  it  with  a  nine-pounder  rifle  gun,  com- 
manded by  now  Brigadier-general  W.  H.  Jackson,  and 
another  company  with  smaller  guns. 

The  Tennessee  Legislature  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks- 
for  service  at  Belmont. 

He  commanded  a  division  with  great  distinction  at 
Shiloh;  and  at  Perry ville  he  was  particularly  distin- 
guished; also  at  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  and  Mis- 
sionary Ridge. 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  General  Bragg  dis- 
solved Cheatham's  division,  and  gave  him  a  division  of 
troops  from  other  States,  allowing  him  to  retain  one 
Tennessee  brigade,  upon  the  ground  that  so  large  a 
body  of  troops  from  one  State  in  one  division  promoted 
too  much  State  pride  at  the  expense  of  pride  in  the 
Confederate  States.  When  General  Johnston  assumed 
command  of  the  army  at  Dalton  one  of  his  first  acts 
was  to  restore  the  old  organization. 

The  order  to  this  effect  created  unbounded  enthu- 


GENERAL  CHEATHAM.  321 

siasm  in  the  division,  and  with  one  impulse  the  men 
marched  to  army  head-quarters  with  a  band  of  music 
and  called  for  General  Johnston.  General  Cheatham 
escorted  him  from  his  room  to  the  front  door,  and  pre- 
sented him  to  his  command  with  a  heartiness  as  gen- 
uine as  it  was  unmilitary.  Placing  his  hand  upon  the 
bare  head  of  the  chief  of  the  army,  he  patted  it  two 
or  three  times;  looking  at  the  men.  he  said,  "Boys, 
this  is  Old  Joe!"  This  was  a  presentation  speech  to 
captivate  the  soldiers'  hearts — they  called  their  own 
chief  "Old  Frank,"  and  it  meant  that  there  is  another 
to  trust  and  to  love. 

In  the  Georgia  campaign  his  services  were  just  as 
conspicuous.  The  repulse  of  the  Federal  assault  upon 
his  lines  at  Kennesaw  Mountain  will  always  be  re- 
membered for  its  vigor  on  one  side,  and  for  the  calm 
determination  and  stubborn  resistance  displayed  by  the 
other,  made  with  numbers  so  superior  as  to  appall  any 
but  troops  under  proper  command. 

General  Cheatham  was  especially  careful  of  the  rights 
of  citizens.  Trespasses  upon  their  property  were  never 
permitted.  He  marched  his  command  many  hundreds 
of  miles  and  never  permitted  the  destruction  of  a  fence 
or  the  unlawful  appropriation  of  any  species  of  prop- 
erty. Upon  one  occasion,  marching  through  North 
Georgia,  an  aged  couple,  man  and  wife,  halted  him  in 
the  early  morning  as  the  troops  were  moving  out,  and 
informed  him  that  during  the  previous  night  all  the 
sheep  owned  by  them  had  been  stolen  by  the  soldiers. 
The  entire  command  had  camped  around  them,  and 
they  knew  not  to  whom  to  charge  it.  The  matter  was 
hurriedly  investigated — the  loss  was  established.  Gen- 
eral Cheatham  said  to  the  people,  "Can  you  replace 
the  sheep?"  The  old  man  replied,  "If  I  had  the 
21 


322  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

money  I  might  do  so,  but  it  will  take  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  and  I  have  not  a  dollar."  There  was  no 
one  present  but  the  couple,  the  general,  and  one  other. 
The  story  of  poverty  was  a  touching  one;  the  general 
was  visibly  affected,  and,  quietly  drawing  his  pocket- 
book,  counted  out  the  money  in  the  hands  of  the  old 
man,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  away. 

During  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  the  commanding  gen- 
eral being  disabled,  Cheatham  was  taken  from  Har- 
dee's  and  placed  in  command  of  Stewart's  corps,  and 
upon  the  assignment  of  General  Hardee  to  the  com- 
mand of  Charleston  and  its  defenses,  he  was  placed 
permanently  in  command  of  Hardee's  corps,  and  so 
continued  until  its  surrender.  His  assault  of  the  Fed- 
eral line  of  works  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  with  the  divis- 
ions commanded  bv  Cleburne  and  John  C.  Brown,  was 
made  with  deliberation  and  with  full  knowledge  of  its 
difficulties;  it  was  executed  with  steadiness  and  deter- 
mination, and  with  a  valor  not  excelled  in  modern  war- 
fare. He  commanded  his  corps  at  the  unfortunate  bat- 
tle of  Nashville,  and  there  and  upon  its  retreat  to  the 
south,  was  the  same  gallant  and  watchful  soldier. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  March  15,  1866,  General 
Cheatham  was  married  in  Nashville  to  Miss  Anna 
Belle  Robertson,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  A.  B.  Robert- 
son, for  many  years  a  leading  citizen  and  successful 
merchant  of  Nashville. 

Since  the  war  he  has  been  a  quiet,  hard  working 
farmer.  In  1872,  he  received  the  unanimous  nomina- 
tion of  the  State  Convention  of  the  Democratic  party 
for  Congressman  of  the  State  at  large,  and  was  de- 
feated by  the  independent  candidacy  of  ex-President 
Johnson,  who  carried  just  votes  enough  to  secure  the 
election  of  a  Republican.  Two  years  later  he  was  ap- 


GENERAL   CHEATHAM.  323 

pointed  Superintendent  of  Prisons  by  his  friend,  Gov- 
ernor James  D.  Porter,  and  held  it  for  four  years  in  the 
most  acceptable  manner.  His  first  act  of  administra- 
tion was  to  abolish  the  use  of  the  lash,  and  if  he  had 
accomplished  nothing  more,  this  single  act  was  enough 
to  commend  him  to  the  good  opinion  of  all  humane 
people,  but,  with  the  aid  of  his  enlightened  assistants, 
he  inspired  the  convicts  to  a  new  life  by  the  practice 
of  human  and  friendly  acts,  taught  them  that  they 
were  not  entirely  friendless,  and  made  them  cheerful 
and  ready  to  perform  their  tasks  without  an  overseer. 

General  Cheatham  is  genial  and  affectionate  and  has 
troops  of  friends.  He  is  modest  and  very  unpretending. 
During  the  late  war  he  never  asked  for  promotion,  and 
has  never  paraded  his  performances.  If  mistakes  were 
made  by  his  subordinates  he  was  always  ready  to  over- 
look them,  and  this  was  the  defect  in  his  character  as 
a  soldier.  On  several  important  occasions  he  was  made 
to  bear  the  burden  of  these  mistakes,  because,  in  the 
kindness  of  his  heart,  he  would  not  expose  their  au- 
thors. When  the  part  taken  by  Tennessee  in  the  war 
is  written,  he  will  be  named  as  her  representative  sol- 
dier, and  none  can  dispute  his  title. 


324  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  A.  QUARLES. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  was  born  July  4,  1825.  His  parents  settled  near 
Jamestown  at  an  early  period  of  Virginia's  history.  In 
his  early  boyhood  they  came  to  Christian  county,  Ken- 
tucky. General  Quarles,  at  this  time,  was  five  years  of 
age.  Availing  himself  of  the  benefit  of  home  instruc- 
tion till  1845,  he  entered  the  University  of  Virginia, 
where  he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  law.  In 
1848  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  opening  an 
office  at  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  he  became  prominent  in  his 
profession.  As  a  lawyer,  he  was  eminently  successful, 
and  occupied  a  position  among  the  leading  lawyers  of 
the  State. 

He  was  an  elector  on  the  Pierce  ticket  in  1852,  and 
was  opposed  by  the  Hon.  John  A.  McEwen.  In  1858 
he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  was  opposed  by  the  Hon.  F.  K.  Zollicofter 
on  the  Whig  ticket.  In  this  race  General  Qtiarles  re- 
duced the  Whig  majority  from  1,500  to  275.  The  dis- 
trict being  largely  "Whig,"  General  Quarles  was  de- 
feated. 

About  this  time  General  Quarles  was  .appointed 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  during  the  sickness  of  Judge 
W.  W.  Pepper,  the  regular  incumbent.  Holding  this 
office  for  over  twelve  months,  he  modestly  declined 
any  of  its  emoluments,  but  allowed  them  to  go  to  the 
regular  incumbent.  He  was  afterward  appointed  Pres- 
ident of  the  Memphis,  Clarksville  and  Louisville  Rail- 
road, and  held  this  office  for  several  years.  In  1858 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Harris  to  the  position 
of  Bank  Supervisor  for  the  State  of  Tennessee.  He 


GENERAL  QUARLES.  325 

was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention 
at  Cincinnati  in  1856,  and  at  Charleston  in  1860. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  the  States 
in  1861,  General  Quarles  tendered  his  services  to  the 
Confederate  government,  then  at  Montgomery,  Ala. 
The  Confederate  Secretary  of  War  urged  him  to  re- 
main in  Tennessee  and  induce  the  Tennesseans  to  join 
the  cause  of  the  South.  He  was  appointed  aid-de- 
camp to  General  S.  R.  Anderson,  and  his  relations  as 
Bank  Supervisor  made  him  instrumental  in  obtaining 
for  the  State  about  four  million  dollars. 

Soon  afterward  he  was  transferred  from  the  staff  of 
General  Anderson  and  placed  in  command  of  Camp 
Cheatham,  in  Robertson  county,  Tennessee.  At  this 
place  he  organized  the  Forty-second  Regiment  Ten- 
nessee Volunteers,  and  was  ordered  with  his  regiment 
to  Fort  Donelson,  participating  in  the  first  great  battle 
of  the  West. 

On  August  25,  1863,  General  Quarles  was  commis- 
sioned brigadier-general,  and  assigned  to  the  command 
of  a  brigade  which  was  composed  of  the  following 
regiments: 

Forty-second  Tennessee,  Colonel  J.  M.  Hulin; 
Forty-sixth  Tennessee,  Colonel  R.  A.  Owens; 
Forty-eighth  Tennessee  (Vorheis's),  Colonel  William  M.  Vor- 

heis; 

Fourth  Louisiana,  Colonel  S.  E.  Hunter; 
Forty-eighth  Tennessee  (Evans's),  Colonel  Henry  Evans; 
Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  Colonel  W.  F.  Young; 
Fifty-third  Tennessee,  Colonel  J.  R.  White; 
Fifty-fifth  Tennessee,  Colonel  G.  B.  Black; 
Thirtieth  Louisiana,  Colonel  Thomas  Shields; 
Freeman's  Battery  Louisiana  Artillery. 

His  command  was  engaged  in  the  following  battles: 
Fort  Donelson,  Tenn.;  Port  Hudson,  La.;  Jackson, 


326  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Miss.;  New  Hope  Church,  Ga. ;  Pine  Mountain,  Ga.; 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Ga. ;  Smyrna  Depot,  Ga.;  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Ga;  Atlanta,  Ga.;  Lick  Skillet  Road,  Ga.; 
and  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign. In  the  last-named  battle  around  Atlanta,  Gen- 
eral Quarles  fell  severely  wounded.  His  wound  was 
at  first  thought  to  be  fatal.  Here  he  fell  into  the  hands 
of  that  brave  and  good  man,  Bishop  Quintard,  who 
nursed  him  and  cared  for  him  until  he  was  out  of  dan- 
ger. General  Quarles  soon  rejoined  his  command  and 
was  foremost  in  battle. 

Quarles's  brigade  rendered  gallant  service  through- 
out the  Georgia  campaign.  At  the  battle  of  Lick  Skil- 
let Road,  near  Atlanta,  this  brigade  assaulted  the  ene- 
my's works  and  suffered  severely.  In  this  assault  Gen- 
eral Quarles  had  two  different  horses  shot  from  under 
him.  When  his  first  horse  fell  from  under  him,  he 
was  tendered  another  by  a  member  of  his  staff.  This 
second  horse  fell  almost  immediately  after  the  General 
mounted.  In  this  engagement  Quarles's  brigade  suf- 
fered worse  than  any  other  troops.  Its  casualties  in 
this  action  were,  killed,  76;  wounded,  400;  missing, 
19 — total,  495. 

The  following  were  the  members  of  General 
Quarles's  staff: 

G.  Thomas  Cox,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G.,  October,  1863. 

William  B.  Munford,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

A.  F.  Smith,  Lieutenant  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Stephen  A.  Cowlev  Captain  and  A.  I.  G.,  September,  1863. 

Thomas  L.  Bransford,  Captain  and  Ordnance  Officer,  1863. 

Captain  Shute,  A.  D.  C. 

Ashton  Johnson,  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1863. 

Polk  G.  Johnson,  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1863. 

Clarence  Quarles,  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1863. 

George  S.  Atkins,  Major  and  A.  Q^  M.,  1863. 


GENERAL  QUARLES.  327 

G.  L.  Harris.  Captain  and  A.  A.  C.  S.,  1863. 

J.  Q^  Thomas,  Major  and  A.  C.  S.,    1863. 

W.  R.  Poindexter,  Captain  and  A.  A.  C.  S.,  1863. 

Dr.  Thomas  Westmoreland,  Surgeon,  1863. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Assistant  Surgeon,  1863. 

Dr.  R.  S.  Napier,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Of  this  number.  Captain  Ashton  Johnson  was  killed 
at  Lick  Skillet  Road,  Ga.;  Captains  W.  B.  Munford 
and  Stephen  A.  Cowley  were  killed  at  Franklin, 
Tenn.;  Colonel  Bransford  and  Captain  Shute  survived 
the  war,  though  death  took  them  for  his  own  shortly 
after  the  close  of  the  struggle.  Colonel  Polk  G.John- 
son is  at  present  the  only  surviving  member  of  Gen- 
eral Quarles's  staff.  He  resides  at  Clarksville,  Tenn., 
and  is  a  lawyer  of  prominence. 

At  the  battle  of  Franklin,  General  Quarles  received  a 
severe  wound,  from  which  he  did  not  recover  for  a 
long  time  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Upon  his  recov- 
ery, he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Clarksville, 
where  he  at  present  resides.  He  represented  the  coun- 
ties of  Robertson,  Montgomery,  and  Stewart  in  the 
State  Senate  in  1875.  ^e  represented  his  State  in  the 
Democratic  National  Convention  in  1880,  and  also  in 
1884. 

QUARLES'S  BRIGADE. 

The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  General  Quarles,  in 
answer  to  an  inquiry  in  reference  to  the  history  of  his 
brigade: 

Limited  as  this  communication  must  be,  it  will  be 
impossible  for  the  writer,  to  do  justice  to  this  noble 
brigade.  What  we  will  say  will  be  the  rough  sketch 
of  the  picture  rather  than  a  real  and  life-like  portrait- 
ure of  the  service  it  performed.  The  space  will  ad- 


328  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

mit  of  a  mere  summary  of  events,  and  will  necessarily 
exclude  those  details  so  necessary  and  so  important  to 
give  grace  and  soul  and  a  life  hereafter  to  the  story  of 
the  chronicler. 

When  I  claim  for  this  brigade  a  position  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  soldiers  of  the  South — as  I  shall  with  per- 
fect confidence  claim — indeed,  when  it  is  claimed  that 
it  was  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best,  brigade  in  the 
service,  I  trust  it  will  be  understood  I  make  no  invid- 
ious distinctions,  or,  in  fact,  any  claim  of  superior 
merit;  but  the  excellence  of  its  soldiery  was  the  result, 
partly  accidental  arising  from  inferior  opportunity,  and 
partly,  it  is  but  just  to  say,  to  the  first-rate  material  of 
which  it  was  composed;  for  every  soldier  in  its  ranks, 
and  every  officer  having  command,  was  a  volunteer. 
Its  muster  rolls  have  the  names  of  but  five  conscripts 
on  their  pages.  They  rallied  to  their  flag  because  hon- 
estly and  earnestly  they  believed  the  struggle  they  were 
about  to  make,  and  did  make,  was  not  to  dissolve,  but 
to  preserve,  the  Union — a  common  birthright  inherited 
from  revolutionary  ancestors — a  union  of  co-equal  sov- 
.  ereignties,  with  a  constitution  of  government  of  equal 
rights  and  equal  obligations,  and  each  of  these  sover- 
eignties, it  was  believed,  was  equally  bound^in  propor- 
tion to  the  relative  strength  of  each,  to  preserve,  guard, 
and  obey  the  laws  of  the  Federal  government  within 
the  limits  of  its  constitutional  provisions. 

To  do  full  justice  to  the  regiments  composing  this 
brigade  the  services  of  each  should  be  given  before  it 
became  a  part  of  the  brigade  organization.  Each  reg- 
iment and  the  battery  (Yates')  attached  to  it,  had  won 
honorable  distinction  in  hard-fought  battles  before  it 
became  a  part  of  Quarles's  brigade.  But  this  detail  of 
service  must  necessarily  be  left  to  the  future  chronicler 


GENERAL  QUARLES.  329 

of  each  component  part  when  its  history  is  written. 
At  Shiloh,  at  Donelson,  at  Island  No.  Ten,  and  others, 
they  had  had  their  baptism  of  fire,  and  even  though 
but  a  few  weeks  before,  at  their  quiet  homes  in  the 
pursuit  of  a  peaceful  life,  they  had  exhibited  that  stead- 
iness of  courage  in  resisting,  and-  readiness  and  vigor 
in  making,  attacks,  for  which  they  afterward  became 
so  well  known  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  Indeed, 
upon  the  occasion  of  an  application  for  one  or  more 
regiments  to  act  as  a  support  and  reserve  for  this  bri- 
gade, which,  as  it  happened,  was  holding  the  most  im- 
portant, and,  at  the  same  time  the  weakest,  part  of  the 
line,  General  Hood,  then  in  command  of  the  army,  said 
in  reply:  "No,  sir.  It  is  unnecessary.  Quarles's  bri- 
gade has  never  lost  a  picket  line.  I  will  be  responsi- 
ble that  that  portion  of  the  line  will  be  held."  And  it 
is  with  proud  satisfaction  that  I  here  say  that  this  just 
and  deserved  compliment  was  equally  as  applicable  to' 
the  brigade  to  the  end  of  the  war.  They  never  lost  a 
picket  line,  or  gave  way  to  the  enemy,  until  ordered 
by  their  officer,  it  mattered  not  what  the  condition  of 
things  or  what  the  superiority  of  numbers.  Hood,  "  the 
bravest  of  the  brave,"  was  chary  of  compliments,  but 
when  he  believed  it  was  deserved,  and  the  time  came 
to  speak,  he  was  ever  ready  to  bear  willing  tribute  of 
praise.  The  old  soldier  who  has  himself  had  the  ex- 
perience of  the  varying  fortunes  of  war,  will  well  un- 
derstand the  high  measure  of  praise  this  language  im- 
parts, and  will  be  ready  to  look  leniently  upon  the 
pride  and  profound  gratification  with  which  I — who 
owe  so  much  to  this  noble  brigade,  and  who  even  to 
this  day  can  number  every  individual,  both  men  and 
officers,  among  my  dearest  and  warmest  personal 
friends — repeat  this  so  fully-merited  compliment.  But 


330  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

I  am  admonished  by  my  fast-increasing  lines  that  I 
must  forbear,  hoping  at  some  future  time  and  occasion 
to  do  justice  to  the  unexcelled  courage,  conduct,  and 
merits  of  the  men  and  officers,  inclusive,  of  the  whole, 
both  field  and  staff,  whose  enduring  courage  and  un- 
complaining fortitude  under  such  privations  and  hard- 
ships as  neither  the  retreat  from  Moscow  nor  that  of 
our  Revolutionary  army  to  and  at  the  camp  of  Valley 
Forge  can  furnish  parallels — and  even  mark  and  num- 
ber these  soldiers  along  with  those  of  whom  it  may  be 
said:  They  may  have  had  their  equals;  they  have  never 
been  excelled. 

I  cannot  close  this  article  without  a  word  of  acknowl- 
edgment and  deserved  tribute  to  my  staff,  composed 
mainly  of  young  and  unmarried  men.  When  it  be- 
came my  duty,  as  it  often  did,  to  send  them  into  the 
very  jaws  of  death,  I  had  at  least  the  poor  satisfaction 
'of  knowing  that  if  any  casualty  occurred  there  would 
be  no  widows'  tears  or  orphans'  cries  to  be  heard. 
Their  faithful  and  uncomplaining  service,  their  amiable 
accomplishments  in  camp,  their  high  and  honorable 
characters,  their  unflinching  courage  on  the  battle-field, 
and  always  ready  hand  to  aid  in  soothing  the  wounded 
or  ministering  to  the  sick,  made  them  not  only  the  ad- 
miration of  all  who  knew  them,  but  dear  to  me  as  if 
they  had  been  the  children  of  my  own  loins.  Alas  ! 
how  sadly  I  write  these  lines,  a  poor  tribute  to  my 
noble  boys,  now  that  twenty  years  have  passed  away, 
and  along  with  it  so  many  of  them.  But  one  remains 
on  earth  of  my  personal  staff — Polk  G.  Johnson.  At 
the  time  I  appointed  him  my  aid-de-camp — though  the 
position  was  one  of  importance — he  was  but  a  beard- 
less boy  in  his  teens.  His  conduct  did  not  disappoint 
my  expectations.  Faithful  in  the  discharge  of  every 


GENERAL  QUARLES.  331 

duty,  he  was  gifted  with  a  versatility  that  rendered 
him  most  useful  in  taking  the  place,  as  he  often  did,  of 
other  staff*  officers,  who,  from  sickness,  wounds,  or 
other  casualties,  were  unfit  for  service.  As  assistant 
inspector-general,  assistant  adjutant-general,  etc.,  or  in 
his  own  official  position,  he  was  to  me  invaluable,  obe- 
dient to  his  superiors,  polite  and  affable  to  and  with 
the  men — always  ready  to  get  between  them  and  the 
harsh  applications  of  military  rule — he  tempered  dis- 
cipline with  kindness.  Cheerful  and  happy  in  tem- 
perament,  he  aided  greatly  in  making  the  dull  routine 
of  camp  life  enjoyable,  and  never  shrank  from  sharing 
the  hardships  or  doing  his  part  of  the  labor  of  the 
march  and  the  bivouac.  But  it  was  in  the  battle — 
when  the  pickets  had  fallen  back  and  the  lines  met,  or 
when  the  column  of  attack,  with  firm  and  silent  march, 
met  the  death-bearing  storm  of  battle — shot  and  shell 
— that  he  proved  himself  "every  inch  a  soldier." 

I  had  read  in  classic  literature  of  the  "  guardia  cer- 
tameries"  (the  joy  of  the  contest),  but  never  realized 
it  till  I  saw  him  in  battle  where  death  and  glory  stood 
hand  in  hand  ready  to  be  wooed  and  won  by  the  dar- 
ing and  the  brave.  .  .  .  But  my  boy  aid-de-camp  of 
the  glorious  hours  my  subject  arouses  my  memory  to 
recall,  is  now  the  man  of  forty  years,  as  true,  as  faith- 
ful, as  ready  to  do  every  duty  of  civil  life  as  of  that 
hour,  beloved  and  respected  by  all.  He  fills  an  office 
of  great  importance  and  trust*  with  honor  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  those  having  business  with  his  office 
and  its  court. 

*  Clerk  and  Master  of  Chancery  Court,  at  Clarksville,  Tenn. 


332  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


FIFTIETH  REGIMENT  TENNESSEE  VOLUN- 
TEERS. 

This  regiment  was  made  up  from  the  counties  of 
Montgomery,  Stewart,  Cheatham.  Humphreys,  and 
Robertson,  and  a  company  from  Jackson  county,  Ala. 

At  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Stacker 
was  elected  colonel,  but  resigning  on  the  eve  of  the 
battle  of  Fort  Henry,  Lieutenant-colonel  C.  A.  Sugg 
was 'made  commander  of  the  regiment  with  the  rank 
of  colonel,  which  position  he  filled  with  distinction. 
This  regiment  was  surrendered  at  Fort  Donelson. 

During  all  the  spring  and  summer  of  1862  the  regi- 
ment lay  in  prison.  At  last,  on  September  5,  the  men 
left  Camp  Douglas  for  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  to  be 
exchanged  (the  company  officers  had  left  Johnson  Isl- 
and four  days  earlier — on  the  ist),  and  on  September 
17  they  were  exchanged — officers  and  men — and  once 
more  trod  the  soil  of  the  Confederacy. 

On  the  ipth  they  were  ordered  to  Jackson,  Missis- 
sippi, and  there,  on  the  29th,  the  regiment  was  reor- 
ganized. The  company  officers  were  as  follows: 

Company  A,  Captain  W.  C.  Allen,  Montgomery  county. 
Company  B,  Captain  George  W.  Pease,  Kentucky. 
Company  C,  Captain  Reed  Jackson,  Alabama. 
Company  D,  Captain  Sam.  Graham,  Stewart  county. 
Company  E,  Captain  T.  E.  Mallory,  Montgomery  county. 
Company  F,  Captain  James  Dunn,  Stewart  county. 
Company  G,  Captain  Sam.  Mays,  Cheatham  county. 
Company  H,  Captain  E.  Sexton,  Stewart  county. 
Company  I,  Captain  Sam.  Allen,  Stewart  county. 
Company  K,  Captain  Curtis,  Humphreys  county. 

On  the  24th,  an  election  was  held  for  regimental  of- 
ficers. Colonel  Cyrus  A.  Sugg  was  elected  Colonel; 


COLONEL  SUGG.  333 

T.  W.  Beaumont,  Lieutenant-colonel;  and  Christopher 
W.  Henderson,  Major.  Lieutenant  Williams,  of  Com- 
pany H,  was  appointed  Adjutant;  J.  B.  Sugg,  Quar- 
termaster; John  L.  W.  Power,  Commissary;  W.  G. 
Turin,  Sergeant-major;  and  Cave  Morris,  Ordinance 
Sergeant.  Dr.  R.  D.  McCauley  was  Surgeon. 

Brigadier-general  Tighlman  being  in  command  of 
the  exchanged  soldiers  at  Jackson,  organized  a  brigade 
for  himself  composed  of  the  Seventh  Texas,  Third, 
Tenth,  Thirtieth,  Forty-first,  and  Fiftieth  Tennessee 

Regiments,   and   the    First   Tennessee  Battalion,  with 

&  '  '   » 

Bledsoe's  First  Missouri  Battery. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Jackson,  and  in  that  vi- 
cinity, until  October  8,  and  was  then  sent  by  rail  to 
Corinth  to  reinforce  General  Van  Dorn.  Met  that  of- 
ficer's command  at  Holly  Springs,  to  which  place  he 
had  fallen  back  from  Corinth.  On  November  5,  the 
Federals  still  advancing,  the  command  fell  back  to  Ab- 
beyville,  Mississippi,  and  thence  to  Grenada,  where  it 
remained  two  or  three  weeks. 

While  at  Grenada  the  small-pox  broke  out.  There 
were  seventeen  cases,  but  no  deaths.  Dr.  McCauley 
having  resigned,  Dr.  R.  G.  Rothrock,  now  of  Nash- 
ville, was  ordered  by  the  War  Department  to  report  to 
Colonel  Sugg  as  surgeon. 

Here  Colonel  Gregg,  of  the  Seventh  Texas, was  made 
brigadier-general,  and  ordered  to  take  command  of  this 
brigade,  which  he  did,  and  commanded  until  being 
wounded  at  Chickamauga.  Colonel  Sugg,  of  the  Fif- 
tieth Tennessee,  commanded  the  brigade  during  most 
of  the  retreat. 

On  December  24,  the  whole  command  was  reviewed 
byJefFerson  Davis  and  General  Joseph  E.Johnston, 
and  on  Christmas-day  the  regiment  left  for  Vicksburg, 


334  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

and  at  Chickasavv  Bayou,  on  the  28th,  a  sharp  fight  was 
had  with  the  Federals  under  General  Sherman,  and 
the  enemy  driven  back  to  their  gun-boats.  On  January 
5,  1863,  the  brigade,  under  command  of  General  Gregg, 
was  ordered  to  Port  Hudson.  On  March  14,  at  night, 
occurred  the  terrific  bombardment,  during  which  two 
of  the  enemy's  gun-boats  passed  up  theriver,  getting 
between  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  The  night  was 
dark,  but  the  heavens  were  lit  up  with  the  bursting 
shells.  "  It  looked,"  said  one  of  the  men,  "  like  the 
world  on  fire — judgment-day  can't  beat  it." 

On  May  2,  the  brigade  left  Port  Hudson,  marching 
on  foot,  for  Jackson,  Miss.  Reached  Jackson  on  the 
9th,  and  marched  out  next  day  to  Raymond,  twelve 
miles.  There,  on  May  12,  fought  the  eflemy  five  hours; 
Gregg's  brigade  of  only  twenty- five  hundred  held  in 
check  ten  thousand  Federals. 

Here  General  Gregg  was  deceived  by  his  scouts  as 
to  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  He  entered  the  fight 
under  the  impression  that  he  could  capture  the  whole 
command.  The  Fiftieth  Tennessee  being  on  the  left 
of  the  brigade  was  detached  and  ordered  to  charge  to 
the  rear  of  battery,  but  was  confronted  bv  a  heavy 
line.  After  the  fight  began  it  was  discovered  by  an 
officer  of  the  skirmish  line  that  a  heavy  column  of  the 
enemy  was  in  double-quick  to  the  left,  doubtless  with 
the  intention  of  getting  in  the  rear  of  the  Confed- 
erates. Lieutenant-colonel  Beaumont  being  in  com- 
mand (Col.  Sugg  being  absent  on  furlough),  ordered  a 
retreat,  and  by  skillful  maneuvering  to  the  left  suc- 
ceeded in  covering  this  movement  and  holding  it  in 
check,  by  moving  back  and  charging  the  enemy. 

Colonel  T.  W.  Beaumont  commanded  the  Fiftieth 
Tennessee.  He  was  wounded  in  the  head  and  knocked 


COLONIAL  SUGG.  335 

down;  two  men  sprang  from  the  ranks  to  take  him  up, 
but  he  rose  himself,  ordered  them  back  into  line,  and 
resumed  command  of  the  regiment.  At  this  most  op- 
portune moment,  Dr.  Rothrock,  having  been  where  he 
could  discover  a  flank  movement  of  the  Federals,  and 
that  the  Confederates  had  yielded  the  field,  reached 
Colonel  Beaumont,  who  was  bleeding  profusely,  and, 
having  dressed  his  wound  quickly,  informed  him  of  the 
situation.  Beaumont  then  withdrew  to  the  road  and 
fell  back  in  good  order  to  Raymond,  where  he  over- 
took the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade.  So  hard 
fought  was  the  battle  that  General  McPherson  with 
his  whole  corps  did  not  pursue.  The  Confederate 
wounded  who  were  left  at  Raymond  stated  that  they 
were  not  believed  when  they  told  the  Federals  that  the 
Confederates  in  the  fight  amounted  to  but  one  brigade. 
At  Mississippi  Springs  the  brigade  was  reinforced  by 
Walker's  and  Gist's  brigades.  The  Fiftieth  Tennessee 
was  stationed  on  the  road  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check 
until  the  other  troops,  with  stores,  could  pass  out — truly 
a  post  of  danger  and  a  post  of  honor.  The  Confed- 
erates were  forced  back  into  Jackson,  and  on  the  I4th 
fell  back  from  Jackson  to  Canton,  Miss.  On  June  i  the 
regiment  moved  to  Yazoo  City,  on  the  I3th  to  Mound 
Bluff  Church,  and  remained  there  until  July  i;  on  that 
day  broke  camp  and  marched  to  Big  Black  river  to  get 
in  the  rear  of  General  Grant,  who  was  besieging  Vicks- 
burg. 

On  the  night  of  the  3d  we  had  orders  to  cook  three 
days'  rations,  and  be  ready  to  move  by  2  o'clock  in  the 
morning  to  cross  the  river  to  attack  Grant  and  deliver 
Pemberton  and  his  troops;  but  before  the  hour  to 
march,  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  three  brigades,  heard  of  the  surrender 


336  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

of  Vicksburg,  which,  though  negotiated  on  the  3d,  was 
not  promulgated  till  the  4th.  Johnston  withdrew  in  the 
direction  of  Meridian.  With  such  quietness  was  the 
evacuation  performed  that  the  Federals  were  not  aware 
until  the  next  day  was  well  spent  that  the  rebels  were 
gone.  The  regiment  suffered  the  loss  of  a  number  of 
men  killed  and  wounded.  While  in  earthworks  the 
men  suffered  greatly  from  heat  and  want  of  water;  as, 
in  fact,  they  did  in  this  whole  campaign,  from  the  time 
of  leaving  Port  Hudson.  General  Grant  seemed  satis- 
fied as  to  what  had  been  accomplished  and  fell  back  to 
Vicksburg,  and  Gregg's  brigade  was  sent  to  Enterprise 
to  recruit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ^th,  learned  of  the  surrender 
of  Vicksburg,  and  again  fell  back  toward  Jackson, 
Miss.  Reached  Jackson  on  the  yth,  and  remained  in 
the  rifle-pits  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  until  the  i6th, 
then  left  at  night  for  Enterprise.  *• 

At  Jackson,  Major  Robertson,  of  the  Fiftieth  Ten- 
nessee, in  command  of  the  skirmish  line,  was  compli- 
mented by  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  in  an  official 
order,  published  in 'all  the  papers. 

In  September,  1863,  the  command  was  sent  by  rail 
to  join  Bragg  in  North  Georgia.  At  Big  Shanty,  near 
Cartersville,  Ga.,  there  was  a  collision  *  in  which  thir- 
teen men  of  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee  were  killed  and 
seventy-five  wounded.  Captain  T.  E.  Mallory,  of 
Company  E,  was  dangerously,  and  it  was  for  a  long 
time  thought  fatally,  wounded  in  this  collision. 

On  September  18,  the  regiment  reached  Bragg's 
army — on  the  eve  of  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga 

*  This  collision  of  the  cars  was  at  Allatoona  Pass,  the  casualties 
of  which  were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded. 


GENERAL  SUGG.  337 

— and  the  next  morning  went  into  the  fight.  It  was 
nearly  annihilated. 

The  regiment  skirmished  all  day  of  the  iSth.  In  the 
evening  the  enemy  made  a  determined  resistance  at 
Chickamauga  bridge.  About  dark  the  main  line  was 
encountered.  The  men  slept  on  their  arms  during  the 
night.  On  the  morning  of  the  i9th,  Gregg  was  in  the 
front  line  with  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee  on  his  left,  which 
was  on  the  left  of  Bragg's  line.  General  Gregg  was 
wounded  during  Saturday's  fight,  and  Colonel  Sugg 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  brigade.  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Beaumont  was  killed.  Major  Robertson  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Colonel  Sugg 
received  four  wounds,  but  continued  in  command  all 
day. 

On  Sunday  morning  a  brigade  of  South  Carolina 
troops  took  position  in  front  of  Gregg's  brigade  and 
was  immediately  fired  upon  from  a  dense  pine  thicket. 
Colonel  Sugg  hurried  to  their  relief.  The  men  raised 
a  yell,  and  with  a  gallant  charge  dislodged  the  enemy 
and  drove  them  to  their  main  line. 

During  the  remainder  of  September  20,  the  fight 
was  in  an  open  field.  In  the  evening  the  enemy  posted 
on  a  ridge  a  battery  of  ten  guns,  with  heavy  support. 
A  stubborn  fight  raged  on  this  part  of  the  line,  and 
the  enemy  was  finally  routed,  and  the  guns  captured 
and  turned  upon  them.  The  Fiftieth  Tennessee  had 
been  drilled  in  artillery,  and  were  ordered  to  work 
the  captured  guns.  The  enemy  made  one  more  halt, 
but  were  soon  dislodged,  and  the  battle  was  over. 

The  captured  guns,  manned  by  members  of  the  Fif- 
tieth Tennessee,  together  with  Bledsoe's  battery,  did 
valiant  service.  On  September  22,  the  regiment,  with 
99 


338  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

its  brigade,  was  ordered  in  the  direction  of  Chatta- 
nooga, and  went  into  camp  near  Lookout  Mountain. 

In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  General  Gregg  com- 
manded the  brigade  until  he  was  wounded,  and  Col- 
onel Sugg  then  took  command.  The  gallant  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Tom  Beaumont  was  killed,  and  Major 
Christopher  W.  Robertson  fell  mortally  wounded.  He 
was  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age.  A  letter  from 
Colonel  Sugg,  written  October  10,  1863,  three  weeks 
after  the  battle,  says:  "  I  occupied  the  left  of  the  bri- 
gade; the  troops  on  my  left  failed  to  support  me,  and  I 
had  to  sacrifice  my  regiment,  or  let  the  brigade  be  cap- 
tured or  cut  to  pieces.  The  enemy  bore  down  on  our 
left;  the  regiment  stood  like  heroes,  though  the  killed 
and  wounded  were  dropping  on  every  side.  We  held 
them  in  check  until  assistance  came,  and  then,  with  re- 
inforcements, drove  them  from  the  field.  We  were  in 
it  three  hours;  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  went  into 
the  fight;  fifty-four  only  came  out.  Colonel  Beaumont 
and  Major  Robertson  killed;  Major  S.  H.  Colms 
severely  wounded;  Captain  Williams  killed;  Lieuten- 
ants Hayes  and  Whittey  killed;  Lieutenant  White  will 
probably  die;  Captains  Pease  and  Sexton  wounded; 
Lieutenant  Holmes  Wilson  severely  wounded;  Lieu- 
tenant Wheatley  wounded,  and  a  host  of  men — among 
them,  Sam  and  George  Dunn  and  George  Hornberger; 
John  Crunk  killed;  Isbell  missing;  John  Benton,  Billy 
Boiseau,  George  Warfield,  George  Hornberger,  Bob 
McReynolds,  John  Willoughby,  Holt,  and  Franklin, 
were  wounded.  Many  others  were  killed  and  wound- 
ed, whose  names  I  cannot  recall  to  mind." 

This  is  the  dreadful  tale  from  the  pen  of  the  colonel 
of  the  regiment,  who  was  destined  himself  to  lose  his 
life  in  the  next  general  engagement. 


COLONEL   SUGG.  339 

The  Captain  Williams  here  spoken  of  as  killed  was 
Adjutant  Williams,  who,  at  Mound  Bluff  Church,  in 
June  preceding,  had  been  promoted  Captain  of  Com- 
pany D.  Fletcher  Beaumont,  a  brother  of  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Tom  Beaumont,  had  been  appointed  adjutant 
in  his  stead. 

Major  Colms,  mentioned  as  wounded,  was  Maj.  S. 
H.  Colms,  the  commander  of  Colms's  Tennessee  bat- 
talion, which  went  into  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
with  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee,  and  was  afterward  con- 
solidated with  the  regiment. 

Here  Gregg's  brigade  was  dismembered,  and  Sugg 
was  ordered  to  report  with  his  regiment  to  General 
Maney.  The  Fiftieth  Tennessee  now  became  a  part 
of  Cheatham's  division,  until  the  last  reorganization  in 
North  Carolina  on  the  eve  of  the  final  surrender. 

At  Missionary  Ridge,  General  Cleburne  had  repulsed 
several  attacks  made  by  the  enemy  on  a  part  of  his 
line.  Maney's  brigade  had  been  held  in  reserve  all 
day,  and  in  the  evening  had  been  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Cleburne,  who  placed  the  brigade  to  the  relief 
of  this  part  of  the  line. 

When  the  brigade  arrived,  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee 
was  ordered  by  General  Maney  to  attack  the  enemy 
and  charge  their  works.  The  charge  was  made  and 
the  enemy  was  driven  down  the  mountain.  This  feat 
was  exacted  of  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee,  it  was  said,  to 
gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  commander,  who  wanted 
to  see  how  they  would  '•  stand  the  racket,"  as  they  had 
but  recently  been  attached  to  Maney's  brigade.  The 
regiment  did  its  work  nobly  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  commander.  It  had  stood  the  test  nobly  in  this 
instance,  as  it  had  on  all  former  fields,  though  at  a  fear- 
ful loss  of  life.  Here  the  gallant  Colonel  Sugg,  Colo- 


340  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

nel  Beaumont,  Captain  Mays,  and  many  others,  went 
down,  some  to  death  and  others  so  disabled  as  to  be 
unfit  for  further  duty  during  the  war. 

On  the  left  the  Confederates  had  been  driven  to  the 
top  of  the  ridge  and  routed,  though  Maney  held  his 
position  till  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  then  withdrew  in 
perfect  order.  On  the  following  day  his  brigade  cov- 
ered the  retreat.  The  rear  was  pressed  severely  by 
the  enemy.  At  Cat  Creek  the  Forty-first  and  Fiftieth 
Regiments  were  halted  and  formed  in  line  to  receive 
the  attack  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Farquaharson,  of 
the  Forty-first  Tennessee  was  in  command  of  the  de- 
tachment. When  he  discovered  the  superiority  of  the 
advancing  lines,  and  that  his  flanks  were  uncovered  to- 
such  an  extent  that  to  be  attacked  here  would  result  in 
defeat  and  disaster,  he  quietly  fell  back  to  the  reserve 
line.  Here  the  Federals  came  up  in  force  and  received 
a  severe  chastisement  at  the  hands  of  the  Confederates, 
Under  cover  of  the  night,  the  Confederates  withdrew 
in  the  direction  of  Ringgold,  and  thence  to  Dalton. 

The  Confederates  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Dal- 
ton. The  Fiftieth  Tennessee  was  stationed  at  Tilton, 
between  Resaca  and  Dalton.  This  was  done  £t  the 
request  of  some  of  the  citizens,  who  knew  many  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  regiment. 

While  here  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee  and  Colms's  Bat- 
talion were  permanently  consolidated.  During  the 
winter  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Meridian,  Miss.,  to  re- 
enforce  the  Confederates  against  Grant,  who  seemed 
to  be  moving  upon  Demopolis.  Grant  having  returned 
to  Vicksburg,  the  re-enforcements  were  returned  to 
Dalton. 

During  the  following  May  the  Georgia  campaign 
opened  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  in  front  of  Dalton,  and 


COLONEL   SUGG.  341 

about  the  middle  of  the  month  was  fought  the  battle 
of  Resaca. 

During  the  winter  preceding  the  Georgia  campaign 
the  soldiers  in  all  the  regiments  had  cultivated  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  people  in  the  surrounding  country, 
and  among  the  young  men,  Dalton  and  vicinity  had 
quite  a  social  life.  Social  gatherings  were  not  un- 
frequent,  and  occasionally  a  ball  or  old-fashioned 
'"shin-dig'"  was  gotten  vip  in  the  vicinity  of  the  en- 
campment. When  the  spring  campaign  opened  it 
had  the  withering  effect  of  frustrating  many  con- 
genial associations.  ,  Many  of  the  boys  had  found 
sweethearts  meanwhile,  and  a  few  had  become  par- 
tially oblivious  of  the  pledges  they  had  loft  at  home. 
Every  boy  had  a  "gal"  in  the  rural  districts  somewhere, 
who  would  wash  and  mend  his  clothing,  and  bestow 
various  pledges  of  devotion  and  constancy,  for  which 
the  boy  would  devote  in  exchange  his  surplus  of  sugar 
and  rice  and  such  other  articles  as  were  scarce  in  the 
Confederacy.  When  the  campaign  opened,  reams  of 
Confederate  paper  were  written  and  interchanged. 
The  boys  would  send  a  parting  message  to  the  girls, 
-and  the  girls  would  respond  in  eloquent,  patriotic 
strains — sometimes  stimulating  to  valor,  and  at  other 
times  in  wailing  tones  of  sympathy  for  the  soldier's 
hard  lot.  Occasionally  the  muses  would  be  called  up 
when  they  were  not  in  shape  for  company,  but  it  was 
a  day  of  emergencies.  The  boys  would  wear  the  lines 
received  nearest  their  hearts.  Among  the  various  in- 
spirations, the  following  was  received  by  a  young 
soldier  from  his  "gal:" 

o 

"  "Pis  hard  for  jou'uns  to  fight  the  Yanks, 
'Tis  hard  for  you'uns  to  live  in  camps; 
'Tis  hard  for  jou'uns  and  we'uns  to  part, 
For  jou'uns  have  done  got  we'uns'  heart." 


342  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

The  boys  with  their  pockets  full  of  this  and  similar 
sentiment,  met  the  "Yanks"  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge  and 
stood  their  ground  nobly.  In  a  few  days  the  army  re- 
treated to  Resaca. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Resaca  was  the  residence  of 
Judge  Green,  a  prominent  and  wealthy  gentleman  of 
Savannah.  Judge  Green  had  an  interesting  family^ 
including  two  beautiful  and  accomplished  daughters. 
Adjutant  Childress  and  Lieutenant-colonel  Pease  had 
become  acquainted  with  this  family  while  encamped 
at  Tilton,  and  were  invited  to  visit  them  on  the  even- 
ing of  May  14,  to  eat  strawberries.  The  gallant 
young  officers  accepted  the  invitation,  pledging  them- 
selves to  b£  on  time,  but  forgetting  the  proviso  that 
Johnston  and  Sherman  had  an  entertainment  that 
was  liable  to  come  oft'  the  same  day.  The  young 
gentlemen  appeared  at  the  house  prompt  to  time,  but 
under  adverse  circumstances.  Their  brigade  had  been 
ordered  to  attack  the  Federal  left,  and  passed  through 
Judge  Green's  yard  in  line  of  battle.  As  the  Fiftieth 
Tennessee  passed  through  the  strawberry  patch  in  line 
of  battle,  at  a  double-quick,  Adjutant  Childress  could 
not  forget  his  appointment,  but  stooped  down  hurriedly 
and  plucked  a  few  strawberries  on  the  run,  which  he 
ate  as  his  regiment  was  going  into  the  fight.  The 
battle  was  severe,  and  among  the  wounded  was  the 
surgeon  of  the  regiment — an  unusual  occurrence  in 
the  army.  The  strawberry  festival  was  indefinitely 
postponed. 

The  campaign  now  thickened  and  was  one  daily 
round  of  battles  and  skirmishes,  in  all  of  which  the 
Fiftieth  Tennessee  bore  a  prominent  part — at  Dead 
Angle  or  Devil's  Elbow,  on  the  Kennesaw  line,  and 
all  the  battles  around  Atlanta.  In  the  Tennessee-cam- 


COLONEL  YOUNG.  343 

paign  it  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  This  regiment  was 
in  all  the  battles  in  which  Ch'eatham's  division  was  en- 
gaged, and  in  every  instance  proved  itself  the  equal 
of  any  regiment  in  the  service. 

At  the  last  reorganization,  on  the  eve  of  the  surren- 
der, about,  forty  skeleton  Tennessee  regiments  were 
consolidated  into  one  brigade  of  four  regiments.  In 
this  the  old  Fiftieth  Tennessee  lost  its  identity.  It 
made  one  company  of  the  Second  Regiment,  and  the 
adjutant,  J.  W.  Child ress,  now  of  Nashville,  was  placed 
in  command  as  captain.  The  field  officers  of  the  con- 
solidated regiment  were:  O.  A.  Bradshaw,  Colonel, 
formerly  of  the  Fourth  Tennessee;  Lieutenant-colonel 
G.  W.  Pease,  of  the  Fiftieth,  was  Major;,  and  Dr.  R. 
G.  Rothrock,  of  the  Fiftieth,  was  Assistant  Surgeon. 

A  few  days  afterward  the  whole  army  was  surren- 
dered, when  the  survivors  of  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee 
returned  to  their  homes  and  donned  the  habiliments 
of  peace. 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  F.  YOUNG,  FORTY- 
NINTH  TENNESSEE  REGIMENT. 

This  gallant  officer  entered  the  service  as  captain  of 
Company  G,  Forty-ninth  Tennessee  Infantry,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war.  The  regiment  was  composed 
of  the  following  companies: 

Company  A,  Montgomery  county,  Captain  James  E.  Bailey. 
Company  B,  Dickson  county,  Captain  T.  K.  Grigsby. 
Company  C,  Robertson  county,  Captain  W.  V.  Fyke. 
Company  D,  Dickson  county.  Captain  J.  B.  Cording. 
Company  E,  Montgomery  county,  Captain  J.  M.  Peacher. 
Company  F,  Montgomery  county.  Captain  D.  A.  Lynn. 
Company  G,  Montgomery  county,  Captain  William  F.  Young. 


344  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Company  H,  Montgomery  county.  Captain  Pugh  Havnes. 
Company  I,  Benton  county.  Captain  T.  A.  Napier. 
Company  K,  Cheatham  county.  Captain  William  Shaw. 

At  the  organization  of  the  regiment  the  field  officers 
were  as  follows: 

JAMES  E.  BAILEY,  Colonel; 

ALFRED  ROBB,  Lieutenant-colonel; 

D.  A.  LYNX,  Major; 

R.  E.  DOUGLAS,  Adjutant; 

Dr.  W.  B.  WILLIAMS,  Surgeon. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson,  where  Lieutenant-colonel  Robb  was  mor- 
tally wounded.  The  regiment  was  surrendered  at  Fort 
Donelson,  February  16,  1862.  The  field  officers  were 
sent  to  Fort  Warren,  the  company  officers  to  Johnson's 
Island,  and  the  privates  to  Camp  Douglas.  The  regi- 
ment was  exchanged  at  Vicksburg,  September  17, 
1862.  The  officers  met  the  men  at  this  point,  having 
been  exchanged  at  City  Point,  Va.  The  regiment  was 
reorganized  and  entered  the  campaign  of  North  Mis- 
sissippi and  Louisiana. 

The  Forty-ninth  Regiment  was  a  part  of  Quarles's 
brigade.  Captain  Young  was  afterward  promoted  to 
the  command  of  the  Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Concerning  the  merits  of  this  officer, 
we  have  the  following  from  the  pen  of  Polk  G.  John- 
son, Esq.,  of  Clarksville,  Tenn. : 

"This  brave  and  gallant  Confederate  soldier  lost  an 
arm  at  Atlanta,  in  the  battle  of  Lick  Skillet  Road,  July 
28,  1864,  and  had  a  minnie  ball  embedded  in  his  large 
watch  over  his  heart.  His  regiment  suffered  terribly. 
A  ball  passed  through  the  flag-staff  and  thirty-two 
minnie  balls  through  his  flag,  and  over  one  half  were 


COLONEL  YOUNG.  345 

killed  or  wounded.  While  being  carried  from  the  field 
two  men  carrying  him — Captain  Dunlap,  of  Dickson 
county,  Tenn.,  and  the  other  whose  name  I  have  for- 
gotten— were  killed.  The  writer  buried  Captain  Dun- 
lap  the  next  day,  with  Lieutenant  Ashton  Johnson,  of 
Quarles's  staff. 

"A  humble  .man,  whose  parents  came  from  Vir- 
ginia, he  was  born  in  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  March  26, 
1830,  and  moved  to  Montgomery  county,  Tenn.,  in 
1832;  and  from  his  early  youth  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing— plowing  the  fields  with  his  own  hands  and  gath- 
ering at  the  harvest-time.  Thus  his  life  was  spent 
until  called  to  the  war  in  1861. 

"  His  good  parents,  of  whom  he  is  justly  proud,  taught 
him  to  believe  in  God  and  to  discharge  his  duty  always 
faithfully.  He  did  not  forget  this  teaching,  and  in  all 
his  relations  to  family,  Church,  and  State,  he  has  been 
true. 

"He  was  among  the  first  to  respond  to  his  country^ 
call  in  1861,  and  among  the  last  to  leave  it  after  'its 
banner  had  been  furled.'  He  took  part  with  his  regi- 
ment in  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  shared  their 
prison  life,  and  was  with  them  ever  afterward,  except 
when  confined  in  the  hospital  from  the  loss  of  his  right 
arm  at  Atlanta. 

"He  began  his  military  career  as  a  private  soldier  in 
Company  G,  of  the  Forty-ninth  Tennessee;  was  elected 
captain  of  his  company  at  its  organization,  and  ordered 
to  Fort  Donelson.  Here  this  regiment  was  organized, 
with  James  E.  Bailey,  of  Clarksville,  as  colonel,  and 
Alfred  Robb,  of  Clarksville,  as  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
the  other  necessary  officers. 

"The  subject  of  our  short  sketch  afterward  was  pro- 
moted to  the  colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  and  has  ever 


346 


SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


retained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  both  olricers 
and  men  of  his  command. 

"After  the  war  he  continued  his  old  occupation  of 
farming,  and  added  thereto  school-teaching,  being  un- 
able to  do  manual  labor,  which  he  followed  until  1870, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  auctioneering,  and 
has  followed  it  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  honest  and  faith- 
ful Christian." 

The  following  are  the  muster  rolls  and  casualty  re- 
port of  a  portion  of  the  companies  of  the  Forty-ninth 

Tennessee: 

COMPANY  A. 

OFFICERS. 

J.  E.  Bailey,  Captain.  L.  W.  Bourne,  Fourth  Sergeant. 

T.  M.  Atkins,  First  Lieutenant.  M.  W.  Wisdom,  Fiftli  Sergeant. 

R.  A.  Wilson,  Second  Lieutenant.  Stephen  Pettus,  First  Corporal. 
W.  H.  Burgess,  Third  Lieutenant.  Win.  Adwell,  Second  Corporal. 
A.  F.  Smith,  First  Sergeant.  C.  H.  Ricou,  Third  Corporal. 

John  B.  Johnson,  Second  Sergeant.         Win.  McKeage,  Fourth  Corporal. 
Robert  Bringhurst,  Third  Sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Q.  C.  Atkinson.  Cave  J.  Clark. 

J.  C.  Anderson.  (ieorge  Chisenhall. 

B.  F.  Buck.  John  Dolon. 
G.  W.  Buck.  Janies  Davis. 
J.  M.  Buck.  J.  P.  Damron. 
G.  E.  B»rgess.  F.  M.  Drake. 
Fletcher  Beaumont,  S.  R.  Cooke. 
Frank  Bell.  W.  D.  Eminizer. 
J.  W.  Bourne.  J.  B.  Edlin. 

J.  D.  Broomfield.  George  Elliott. 

J.  D.  Booth.  J.  W.  Ferkin. 

Montgomery  Bell.  Thomas  Finley. 

C.  D.  Bailey.  J.  R.  Fletcher. 
R.  T.  Coulter.  ?.  T.  Farley. 
C.  H.  Bailey.  R.  C.  Goostree. 
L.  R.  Clark.  Daniel  Gold. 
L.  R.  Cooper.  L.  T.  Gold. 

C.  R.  Cooper.  Granville  Grimes. 

W.  C.  Cooper.  J.  A.  Hutchinson. 

Thomas  Coulter.  R.  J.  Haskins. 

James  Clark.  S.  Hackney. 

W.  J.  Camel).  \Vm.  Harris 


COLONEL  YOUNG. 


John  Harris. 
Robert  Harris. 
James  Harris. 
Watson  Hibbs. 

F.  E.  Heatherington. 
W.  T.  Hargrave. 

J.  W.  Helm. 
J.  G.  Hoskins. 
R.  G.  Halliday. 
Polk  G.  Johnson. 
J.  S.  Jarrell. 
Matt.  Leggett. 
Charles  Loftland. 
C.  M.  Lewis. 

G.  W.  Leigh,  Jr. 
H.  G.  Marklin. 
T.  F.  McCallister. 
James  McCarter. 
John  McCarter. 
Milton  Mise. 

B.  McCormack. 
Robert  Mellon. 
John  Mellon. 
Walker  Manson. 
John  McCiintock. 

C.  P.  Moore. 
W.  B.  Munford. 
Benjamin  McGhee. 
W.  H.  Neblett. 

R.  H.  Neal. 
John  Orgain. 
B.  D.  Orgain. 


Wm.  M.  Orgain. 
J.  W.  Oglesby. 
John  O'Brien. 
J.  L.  Pendergast. 
Robert  Poole. 
Thomas  Pearson. 
Paris  Peter. 
W.  H.  Powell. 
W.  R.  Poindexter. 
Cave  J.  Rigging. 
Alfred  Robb. 
Henry  Ring. 
Alfred  Simpson. 
Henry  Simpson. 
Charles  Shanklin. 
Thomas  H.  Smith. 
G.  R.  Smith. 
D.  W.  Scott. 
J.  W.  Smith. 
W.  H.  Turnley. 
C.  L.  Thomas. 
W.  N.  Trice.  - 
John^Taylor. 
Nathan  Vick. 
James  Wells. 
T.  W.  Walthal. 
B.  F.  White. 
Albert  Walthal. 
B.  W.  Waller. 
G.  S.  Williams. 
Polk  Wilcox. 


KILLED. 


J.  C.  Anderson,  Fort  Donelson.  J.  S.  Jarrell,  Franklin. 

Robert  Bringhurst,  Franklin.  Matt.  Leggett,  Lick  Skillet  Road,  At- 

Fletcher  Beaumont,  Missionary  Ridge.  lanta. 

Montgomery  Bell,  Franklin.  Wm.  B.  Munford,  Franklin. 

S.  R.  Cooke,  Franklin.  Alfred  Robb,  Fort  Donelson. 

George  Elliott,  Nashville.  Nathan  Vick,  Franklin. 

John  T.  Farley,  Fort  Do-nelson.  Polk  Wilcox,  Franklin. 

R.  C.  Goostree,  Lick  Skillet  Road,  At-  R.  T.  Coulter,  Franklin, 
lanta.  R.  G.  Halliday,  Franklin. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

C.  H.  Ricou,  Port  Hudson,  La.,  1863.     James  A.  Hutchinson,  1862. 
B.  F.  Buck,  in  prison.  Robert  J.  Haskins,  Chicago,  in  prison, 

Frank  Bell,  place  of  death  unknown.  1SU2. 

J.  D.  Booth,  Port  Hudson,  La  ,  1862.      Stephen  Hackney,  Chicago,  in  prison, 
John  P.  Damron,  Fort  Donelson,  1862.  1862. 


348 


SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


Wm.  Harris,  at  home,  1862.  (i.  W.  Leigh,  Jr.,  Atlanta,  1864. 

John  Harris,  at  home,  1862.  John  W.  McClintock,  Miss  ,  just  before 

Robert  Harris,  at  home,  1862.  close  of  war. 

James  Harris,  at  home,  1862.  John  Orgain,  time  and  place  unknown. 

F.  E.  Heatherington,  Clinton,  Miss.,  B.  D.  Orgain,  Camp  Douglas,  1862. 
1862.  B.  F.  White,  Camp  Douglas,  1863. 

J.  W.  Helm,  Port  Hudson,  La.,  1863. 

WOUNDED. 

Lewis  R.  Clark,  Jonesboro,  Ga.  John  L.  Pendergast,  four  times,  once 

Wm.  C.  Cooper,  Franklin.  very  severely. 

W.  D.  Emiuizer,  Kennesaw  Mountain.  Robert  Poole,  Atlanta. 
John  B.  Edlin,  Kennesaw  Mountain.    Lewis  T.  Gold,  Franklin. 
J.  G.  Hoskins,  Jackson,  Miss.  Charles  Shanklin,  Atlanta. 

Polk  G.  Johnson,  Atlanta.  Thomas  H.  Smith,  Franklin. 

Charles  Loftland,  Fort  Donelson  and  G.  R.  Smith,  Atlanta. 

Shiloh.  A.  F.  Smith,  North  Carolina. 

Walker  Manson,  Franklin.  John  Taylor,  Fort  Donelson. 

Charles  P.  Moore,  Atlanta.  C.  H.  Bailey,  Atlanta  and  Franklin. 

PROMOTED. 

James  E.  Bailey,  Colonel.  George  Elliott,  Lieut.  Company  H. 

Thomas  M.  Atkins,  Lieut. -colonel.         R.  C.  Goostree,  Lieut. 
Robert  A.  Wilson,  Captain.  Lewis  T.  Gold,  Lieut. 

A.  F.  Smith,  General  WalthaH's  staff.  Polk  G.  Johnson,  Lieut.,  and  A.  D.  C. 
John  B.  Johnson,  Captain,  and  A.  C.  General  Quarles. 

8.  Tenth  Tennessee.  Walker  Manson,  Lieut.  Company  G. 

Robert  Bringhurst,  Adjutant.  John  L.  Pendergast,  Capt.  Tenth  Tenn. 

Fletcher  Beaumont,  Adjutant  Fiftieth  Robert  Poole,  Lieut   Thirtieth  Tenn. 

Tennessee.  W.  R.  Poindexter,  Captain  and  A.  Q.  M. 

Charles  D.  Bailey,  Captain  and  A.  C.  S.  Alfred  Robb,  Lieut. -colonel. 
R.  T.  Coulter,  Captain  Company  G.       Thomas  H.  Smith,  Captain  Company  H. 
Lewis  R.  Clark,  Captain  Tenth  Tenn.   John  O'Brien,  Ordnance  Officer. 
Charles  R.  Cooper,  Lieut. 

The  company  was  in  fifteen  battles,  to  wit:  Fort 
Donelson,  Port  Hudson,  La.;  Jackson,  Miss.;  New 
Hope  Church,  Ga. ;  Pine  Mountain,  Ga. ;  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Ga. ;  Smyrna  Depot,  Ga. ;  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Atlanta,  Ga.;  Lick  Skillet  Road,  Atlanta,  Ga.;  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.;  Nashville,  Tenn.;  south  of  Lynnville;  An- 
thony's Hill;  Sugar  Creek;  Bentonville,  N.  C.;  and  in 
a  great  many  skirmishes. 


COLONEL  YOUNG. 


349 


COMPANY  C. 


M.  V.  Fyke,  Captain. 

T.  J.  Morris,  First  Lieutenant. 

H.  V.  Harrison,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  J.  Draughan,  Third  Lieutenant. 

James  P.  Ownly,  First  Sergeant. 

W.  E.  Maurey,  Second  Sergeant. 

Harry  Pepper,  Third  Sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 
W.  H.  Banks. 
J.  A.  Brigg. 
E.  H.  Bibb. 
Charles  Campbell. 
James  Cannon. 
T.  B.  Dalton. 
J.  W.  Dozier. 
J.  B.  Doss. 
E.  H.  Gallaher. 
J.  W.  Grimes. 
B.  S.  Holeman. 
Thomas  Higgs. 
R.  H.  Hicks. 
Samuel  Harris. 
William  Hoffman. 
Archie  Hamilton. 
J.  W.  Judd. 
William  Knight. 
A.  M.  Langford. 
Jasper  Mathews. 
Frank  Mantle. 
W.  E.  Maurey. 
G.  W.  McGuire. 
J.  M.  Morris. 
G.  W.  Morris. 


OFFICERS. 

William  Barnes,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
J.  W.  Hart,  First  Corporal. 
W.  H.  Ward,  Second  Corporal. 
William  Cannon,  Third  Corporal. 
J.  C.  Cole,  Fourth  Corporal. 
J.  H.  Balthrop,  Fifth  Corporal. 


W.  E.  Maurey,  Franklin. 

W.  H.  Banks,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

J.  W.  Grimes,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 


H.  V.  Harrison,  Atlanta. 

W.  E.  Maurey,  Atlanta. 

J.  H.  Balthrop,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 

T.  B.  Dalton,  Atlanta. 

Archie  Hamilton,  Atlanta. 


J.  H.  Murphey. 
H.  C.  Murphey. 
William  Grand. 
J.  W.  Percise. 
G.  W.  Porter. 
William.  Patterson. 
Hezekiah  Porter. 
James  Prest. 
Wiley  Powell. 
Young  Pepper. 
L.  D.  Robertson. 
James  Robertson. 
W.  A.  Robertson. 
Henry  Ruffin. 
S.  F.  Solomon. 
H.  D.  Solomon. 
M.  D.  Taylor. 
J.  M.  Thomas. 
W.  W.  Thomas. 
J.  A.  Thomas. 
J.  H.  Turner. 
J.  H.  Toler. 
D.  H.  Wilkerson. 
M.  L.  Watson. 

J.  B.  White. 
KILLED. 

G.  W.  McGuire,  Franklin. 
Wiley  Powell,  Fort  Donelson. 
D.  H.  Wilkerson,  Atlanta. 

WOUNDED. 

J.  M.  Morris,  Franklin. 
James  Robertson,  by  cars. 
S.  F.  Solomon,  Franklin. 
M.  D.  Taylor,  Atlanta. 


H.  V.  Harrison,  Captain,  1862. 
M.  D.  Taylor,  3d  Lieut.,  1862. 


PROMOTED. 

William  Barnes,    2d    Lieut.,  1862,  3d 
Lieut.,  1863. 


35° 


SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


COMPANY  E. 


OFFICERS. 


J.  M.  Peacher,  Captain. 

J.  W.  Broom,  First  Lieutenant. 

J.  W.  Wall,  Second  Lieutenant. 


K.  A.  Alley. 
Cap  Allen. 
Perry  Allman. 
W.  H.  Burden. 
John  Burden. 
Oliver  Burden. 
H.  C.  Bowers. 
T.  Bowers. 
Henry  Burks. 
Robert  Chance. 
J.  J.  Dilling. 
J.  J.  Fletcher. 
W.  H.  Fletcher. 
Charlie  Ferguson. 
William  Ferguson. 
Jasper  Grimes. 
H.  B.  Hunt. 
William  Horn. 
Hiram  Hambrick. 
A.  J.  Hambrick. 
John  Haley. 
J.  C.  Jordan. 


W.  H.  Powell,  Third  Lieutenant. 
S.  A.  Wall,  Third  Lieutenant. 
R.  M.  Powers,  First  Sergeant. 


PRIVATES. 


Henry  Lewis. 
Joseph  Lyle. 
C.  H.  Lyle. 
Hart  Nolin. 
J.  E.  Oldham. 
Davis  Powell. 
W.  H.  Powell. 
G.  Powers. 
Thomas  Powers. 

E.  H.  Powers. 
John  Powers. 

F.  B.  Powers. 

R.  D.  Robertson. 
W.  Robertson. 
J.  N.  Robertson. 
Nathan  Roland. 
Wash  Roland. 
J.  H.  Sugg. 
George  Wright. 
William  Weakley. 
Peter  Williams. 


KILLED. 


S.  A.  Wall,  Atlanta. 


DIED  IN  SERVICE. 


T.  Bowers,  Camp  Douglas. 
Davis  Powell,  Camp  Douglas. 
Albert  Powell,  Camp  Douglas. 


W.  H.  Fletcher,  Alton,  111. 
J.  J.  Dilling,  Fort  Donelson. 
Hiram  Hambrick,  on  steamboat. 


WOUNDED. 


Lieut.  J.  W.  Broom,  Franklin.  A.  J.  Hamrick,  Franklin. 

Lieut.  S.  A.  Wall,  Ga.,  (three  times).    J.  E.  Oldham,  Atlanta. 
Serg't  R.  M.  Powers,  Franklin. 

PROMOTED. 
Lieut.  J.  W.  Wall,  Captain. 


COLONEL  YOUNG. 


351 


COMPANY   G. 

OFFICERS. 

W.  F.  Young,  Captain.  James  B.  Leigh,  Third  Sergeant. 

James  B.  Howard,  First  Lieutenant.  Willis  Winn,  Fourth  Sergeant. 
Charles  Anderson,  Second  Lieutenant.  James  Council,  First  Corporal. 
Koss  Evans,  Third  Lieutenant.  John  H.  Morrison,  Second  Corporal. 

B.  W.  Humber,  First  Sergeant.  N.  J.  Morris,  Third  Corporal. 

J.  S.  Meacham,  Second  Sergeant.  Thos.  Jeff.  Stone,  Fourth  Corporal. 


PRIVATES. 


Houston  Adams. 
Richard  Averitt. 
Benjamin  Buck. 
Joseph  Bullock. 
Joseph  W.  Barnes. 
Samuel  J.  Bumpass. 
Zebedee  Bumpass. 
A.  J.  Caruthers. 
Melville  C'herry. 
Thomas  H.  Covington. 
Thomas  R.  Coulter. 
Edward  Darnell. 
James  H.  Dyer. 
William  Duberry. 
E.  O.  Ferrell. 
John  Foster. 
P.  Gibbs. 
AVilliam  Gafford. 
Isaac  Gattbrd. 
N.  W.  Lissenbee. 

Lowry.  , 

A.  McXiehols. 


J.  W.  Manson. 
James  Norfleet. 
Joseph  Norfleet. 
William  P.  Outlaw. 
William  Gates. 
Robert  Prewitt. 
William  Prewitt. 
T.  G.  Barbee.    (Pete). 
J.  D.  Riggins. 
C.  J.  Riggins. 
Ike  Smith. 
Taylor  Smith. 
Joseph  Smith. 
John  Stewart. 
John  Satterfield. 

—  Shelton. 
John  M.  Tyson. 
T.  J.  Taller. 
J.  R.  Woo  ten. 
E.  C.  Waters. 
John  Woods. 


KILLED. 


Lieut.  James  B.   Howard,   Atlanta.  A.  J.  Cuthbertson,  Franklin. 

July  28,  isi>4.  Thomas  R.  Coulter,  Franklin. 

Thos.  Jen'.  Stone,  Atlanta,  July  28,  James  Norfleet,    Atlanta,  July    28, 

1864.  1864. 

Joseph  W.  Barnes,  Franklin.  T.  J.  Barbee,  Nashville. 

WOUNDED. 

Houston  Adams,  Franklin.  Corp'l  N.    J.    Morris,    Atlanta    and 

Melville  Cherry,  Seven    Pines    and  North  Carolina. 

Atlanta.  John   M.   Tyson,  Atlanta,   July   28, 

Serg't  Ross  Evans,  Franklin.  1864. 

John  H.  Howard,  Atlanta.  Col.  W.  F.  Young,  Lick  Skillet  Road, 

W.  N.  Lissenbee,  Atlanta.  Ga.,  lost  right  arm. 
William  Prewitt,  Peach  Tree  Creek. 


352  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

DIED  IJT  SERVICE. 

Charles  Anderson,  Johnson's  Island.  ZebedeeBumpass,  Camp  Douglas,  111. 

John  H.  Morrison,  Camp  Douglas,  111.  Edward  Darnell,  Camp  Douglas,  111. 

Richard  Averitt,  Camp  Douglas,  111.  Ike  Smith,  on  exchange  boat. 

Benjamin  Buck,  Camp  Douglas,  111.  T.  J.  Taller,  Camp  Douglas,  111. 

PROMOTED. 

Capt.  W.  F.  Young,  Colonel,  1863.          Thomas  K.  Coulter,  2d  Lieut.,  1862, 
James  B.  Howard,  Captain,  1863.  1st  Lieut.,  1863,  Cap.,  1864. 

State  of  Tennessee,  Montgomery  Count v: 

The  foregoing  muster  roll  of  Company  G,  of  the  Forty-ninth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  is  a  full,  true,  and  perfect  list  of  the  same, 
so  far  as  my  memory  will  admit  of  making.  The  company  was 
organized  by  me  at  Palmyra,  this  county,  on  December  3,  1861. 
Upon  organization,  it  was  composed  of  sixty-four  men.  but  as 
all  records  have  been  lost,  I  can  only  furnish  the  above,  which  is 
exclusively  from  memory. 

I  was  promoted  to  colonel  of  the  regiment  in  September,  1863. 
Lieutenants  Howard  and  Coulter  were  afterward  promoted  to 
captains,  but  both  were  killed,  and  I  am  now  the  only  captain  of 
this  company.  VV.  F.  YOUNG, 

First  Captain  of  Company  G,  Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  afterward 
Colonel  of  the  Regiment. 

CLARKSVILLE,  TENN.,  April  17,  1883. 


GENERAL  ROBERT  HATTON. 

This  gallant  officer  of  the  Tennessee  Army  of  the 
Confederate  service,  was  a  citizen  of  Wilson  county  at 
the  opening  of  the  war.  His  record  as  a  citizen  and 
statesman  was  without  spot  or  blemish.  He  was  a 
citizen  of  whom  the  State  was  justly  proud. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  he  brought  out  a  com- 
pany from  Wilson  county,  and  was  made  colonel  of 
the  Seventh  Tennessee  Regiment,  at  its  organization, 
by  the  unanimous  voice  of  its  members.  John  F. 


GENERAL  HATTON.  353 

Goodner  was  lieutenant-colonel;  John  K.  Howard, 
major;  George  Howard,  adjutant;  Alexander  Vick, 
quartermaster;  R.  Hawkins,  commissary;  Dr.  Robert- 
son, surgeon;  Dr.  Fite,  assistant  surgeon.  Upon  the 
resignation  of  Doctor  Robertson,  Dr.  Fite  was  made 
surgeon. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  was  made  up  from  the  coun- 
ties of  Wilson,  Sumner,  Smith,  and  DeKalb,  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  Captain  Hatton's  company,  Wilson  county; 

2.  Captain  Howard's  company,  Wilson  county; 

3.  Captain  Goodner's  company,  DeKalb  county; 

4.  Captain  Fite's  company,  Smith  county; 

5.  Captain  Douglas's  company,  Sumner  county; 

6.  Captain  Oakley's  company,  Wilson  county; 

7.  Captain  Anderson's  company,  Wilson  county; 

8.  Captain  Anthony's  company,  Wilson  county; 

9.  Captain  Shepherd's  company,  Wilson  county; 
10.  Captain  Baber's  company,  Sumner  county. 

This  regiment  served  in  Westem  Virginia,  about 
Cheat  Mountain,  during  the  first  year  of  the  war,  and 
was  afterward  transferred  to  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, where  it  served  till  the  surrender  at  Appomattox. 

We  regret  our  inability  to  give  a  full  history  of  this 
regiment.  It  was  composed  of  good  material,  and  was 
officered  by  the  best  men  that  the  State  afforded.  Its 
record  is  a  bright  one.  To  record  in  full  the  unwritten 
catalogue  of  its  glorious  deeds  would  of  itself  require 
volumes. 

This  regiment  was  a  part  of  S.  R.  Anderson's  bri- 
gade, which  was  composed  of  the  following  regi- 
ments: First  Tennessee,  Colonel  Maney;  Seventh 
Tennessee,  Colonel  Hatton;  Fourteenth  Tennessee, 
Colonel  Forbes;  Eighteenth  Georgia,  and  Baxter's 
Virginia  Battery. 
23 


354  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

When  General  Anderson  was  assigned  to  another 
field,  Colonel  Hatton,  of  the  Seventh,  was  promoted 
to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  with  the  rank  of  brig- 
adier-general. The  Seventh  Tennessee  was  then  com- 
manded by  Colonel  John  F.  Goodner.  After  the  death 
of  General  Hatton,  the  brigade  was  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Archer.  This  brigade  was  in  the  following  pitched 
battles:  Cheat  Mountain,  Seven  Pines,  Mechanicsville, 
Cold  Harbor,  Gaines's  Mill,  Malvern  Hill,  Cedar  Mount- 
ain, Wilderness,  Gettysburg,  Bristow  Station,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  second  battle  of  Manassas,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Antietam,  Shepherdstown,  Mine  Run,  and  all  the 
daily  battles  and  skirmishes  around  Richmond  and 
Petersburg.  In  each  of  these  battles  the  losses  of 
the  Seventh  Tennessee  were  very  severe.  Colonel 
Hatton  had  received  a  commission  of  brigadier-gen- 
eral on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  and  fell 
at  the  close  of  the  first  day's  fight.  His  command 
suffered  severely.  The  enemy  was  strongly  fortified 
at  the  edge  of  a  swamp,  through  which  the  Confed- 
erates had  to  charge  to  assault  the  Federal  works.  This 
swamp  was  nearly  knee  deep  in  water  in  many  places, 
and  in  passing  this  swamp  many  of  the  severely 
wounded  were  drowned  before  assistance  could  reach 
them.  General  Hatton  led  his  brave  boys  against  the 
enemy's  fortifications.  The  resistance  was  obstinate, 
though  the  Confederates  carried  the  works  after  a  hard 
day's  fight.  At  the  close  of  the  first  day,  in  the  last 
charge,  just  as  the  Federal  line  yielded  and  the  Con- 
federates gained  the  works,  General  Hatton  was  killed. 
His  last  command  was,  "Boys,  follow  me!"  The  loss 
of  General  Hatton  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  State  and 
to  the  army. 

Colonel  Goodner  commanded  the  regiment  much  of 


GENERAL  HATTON. 


355 


the  time  during  the  remainder  of  the  war.  Colonel 
Fite  commanded  at  the  time  of  the  surrender.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  a  full  history  of  this  regiment  may  yet 
be  written. 

We  regret  our  inability  to  furnish  complete  muster 
rolls  and  reports  of  casualties  of  each  company  of  the 
gallant  old  Seventh.  The  following  is  a  list  of  most 
of  the  members  of  Company  G,  as  furnished  by  Ser- 
geant J.  H.  Bond,  of  that  company.  This  company 
was  brought  out  by  Captain  Shepherd,  and  was  from 
Wilson  county.  Its  company  officers  were  as  follows: 

L.  G.  SHEPHERD,  Captain; 

J.  H.  HOBBS,  First  Lieutenant;  " 

M.  M.  BOND,  Second  Lieutenant; 

F.  GRAVES,  Third  Lieutenant. 


COMPANY 

G. 

PRIVATES. 

Bill  Allen. 
Bill  Baird. 

George  Huddleston. 
Aaron  Hutchins. 

Pete  Baskings. 
Can  Baliugtlne. 
George  Blankingship. 
Huse  Bond. 

Laf  Hutchins. 
John  Harrison. 
Will  Harrison. 
Henry  Harrison. 

Hart  Bradshaw. 

James  Harrison. 

Fount  Cluck. 
Sum  Currey. 
Frank  Currey. 
Harris  Davis. 

Cal  Ingram. 
Tom  Jackson. 
Hal  Johnson. 
W.  H.  Johnson. 

Tip  Daugherty. 
Lus  Dement. 

Nube  Jennings. 
Dan  Johns. 

John  Edwards. 

Ned  Jones. 

Buck  Edwards. 
W.  H.  Edwards. 
John  Grisain. 

Dock  King. 
John  Kennedy. 
Laf  Lannom. 

Albert  Grisam. 

Coon  Lannom. 

Will  Grisam. 

Joe  Launom. 

Bob  Gwynn. 
Jack  Gwynn. 
Alexander  Hamilton. 
John  Hobbs. 

Fed  Lenard. 
John  Mount. 
John  McCrary. 
James  McCrary. 

356 


SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 


Cap  Nelson.  Martin  Robins. 

Burt  Ozment.  LUke  Robison. 

John  Ozment.  Calvin  Simmons. 

Laf  Oliver.  Eli  Sellars. 

James  Oliver.  _  J.  Summers. 

Wiley  Pool.  Brud  Sullivan. 

Tom  Patterson.  Laf  Sullivan. 

Hue  Quisenbury.  Bill  Sullivan. 

Bill  Quisenbury.  Bill  Vaughters. 

Tom  Rucker.  John  Van. 

Brown  Rucker.  Dick  Vaughn. 

Alexander  Richmond.  Bill  Woodram. 

James  Richmond.  Balie  Young. 
Tom  Rice. 

KILLED. 

Wm.  Baird,  second  battle  of  Manassas.  John  Ozment,  Harper's  Ferry. 

Hart  Bradshaw,  Wilderness.  Tom  Rice,  Seven  Pines. 

Frank  Currey,  Wilderness.  Calvin  Simmons,  Seven  Pines. 

Back  Edwards,  Seven  Pines.  William  Sullivan,  Shepherdstown. 

William  Grissom,  Seven  Pines.  Baile  Young,  Fredericksburg. 
Hal  Johnson,  Gettysburg. 

WOUNDED. 

Harris  Davis,  Seven  Pines.  Nube  Jennings,  second  battle  of  Ma- 

Cal.  Ingram,  Sheperdstown.  nassas. 

Burt  Ozment,  Harper's  Ferry.  Martin  Robins,  Wilderness. 

DIED  IN  SERVICE. 

Ned  Jones,  Va.  Wiley  Poole,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

John  Mount,  Warm  Springs,  Va.  Wm.  Woodram,  Warm  Springs,  Va. 

PROMOTED. 

Capt.  S.  G.  Shepard,  Major,  1862,  Lieu-  Sergt.  J.  H.  Bond,   1st   Lieutenant, 

tenant-colonel,  1863.  1861,  Captain,  1862. 

Lieut.-col.  J.  F.  Goodner,  Colonel,  1862.  Sergt.  J.  C.  Ingram,  2d  Lieut.,  1863. 
Capt.  John  Fite,  Major,  1862.  Martin  Robins,  3d- Lieutenant,  1863. 


GENERAL  McCoMB.  357 


BRIGADIER -GENERAL  WILLIAM  McCOMB 

Was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pa.,  Nov.  21,  1832.  He 
came  to  Tennessee  in  1854,  and  from  that  time  until 
the  beginning  of  the  war  was  engaged  in  developing 
the  manufacturing  interest  of  Southern  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee.  He  came  to  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  among 
strangers,  and  confined  himself  so  closely  to  the  busi- 
ness in  which  he  was  engaged  that  his  acquaintance 
was  not  large,  but  he  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  never  engaged  in  politics,  and  hence 
had  no  influential  politicians  to  urge  his  advancement; 
but  he  was  a  patriot,  and  ever  ready  to  serve  his  country. 

When  the  first  call  was  made  for  troops  by  Governor 
Harris  to  defend  the  South,  he  promptly  responded, 
joining  as  a  private  soldier  Captain  Ed.  Hewett's  com- 
pany of  the  Fourteenth  Tennessee  Infantiy — Forbes's 
regiment.  His  military  record  is  remarkable.  A  pri- 
vate soldier,  without  strong  and  influential  friends  or 
relatives,  and  a  Northern  man  by  birth,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  to  command  two  of 
the  finest  brigades  ever  connected  with  any  army — 
Archer's  and  Bushrod  Johnson's. 

He  won  this  position  by  gallantry  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  did  it  step  by  step  as  follows:  In  May,  1861, 
he  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  his  company.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  and 
adjutant  of  his  regiment  by  Colonel  William  A.  Forbes. 
Was  elected  major  of  his  regiment  at  Yorktown  in 
1862.  Was  promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  after  the 
death  of  Lieutenant-colonel  George  A.  Harrell^  who 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run.  Was  promoted 
to  colonel  upon  the  death  of  Colonel  William  A. 


358  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Forbes,  who  was  killed  at  the  second  battle  of  Manas- 
sas.  Was  appointed  brigadier-general  by  President 
Davis  and  confirmed  by  the  Senate  in  December,  1864, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  two  brigades 
above  mentioned,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Major-gen- 
eral Harvey  Heth.  He  continued  in  command  of  the 
same  until  the  close  of  the  war,  surrendering  with 
General  Lee  at  Appomattox  Court-house,  Va.  He 
was  wounded  three  times  during  the  war — first  at 
Gaines's  Mill,  slightly;  secondly,  at  Sharpsbtirg,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1862,  very  severely;  and  lastly,  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  May  3,  1863,  very  severely.  He  was  in  the 
following  battles:  Williamsburg,  Red  House,  Seven 
Pines,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines's  Mill,  Frazier's  Farm, 
Malvern  Hill,  Harrison's  Landing,  Harper's  Ferry, 
Sharpsburg,  Chancellorsville,  Wilderness,  Spotsylva- 
nia,  Anderson's,  Cold  Harbor,  Squirrel  Level  Road, 
and  Petersburg.  He  was  also  in  the  many  skirmishes 
in  which  his  command  was  engaged.  He  went  to  the 
Army  of  Virginia  early  in  the  war,  and  was  with  his 
command  in  all  the  engagements  and  skirmishes  from 
Cheat  Mountain  to  Appomattox. 

During  1866  he  was  engaged  in  raising  cotton  in  Ala- 
bama. In  1867-8  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Alabama  Turpentine  Company,  located  at 
Pascagoula,  Miss.  Since  1869  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  in  "Louisa  county,  Va.,  and  his  post-office  is 
Gordonsville,  Va. 

The  following  were  the  members  of  General  Mc- 
Comb's  staff — all  Tennesseans  except  Captain  Archer, 
who  was  a  Virginian: 

John  Allen,  Captain  and  A. A.   General. 
William  T.  Moore,  Captain  and  A.  I.  General. 
R.  E.  McCullock,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C. 


GENERAL  BATE.  359 

C.  J.  Allensworth,  Major  and  A.  Q^.  M. 

Polk  G.  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  I.  General. 

James  Archer,  Captain  and  Ordinance  Officer. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  WILLIAM  B.  BATE. 

General  William  B.  Bate  was  born  and  educated  in 
Stunner  county,  Tennessee.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
Mexican  war  he  was  quite  a  young  man,  and  was  re- 
siding for  the  time  being  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 
He  enlisted  for  a  term  of  twelve  months  in  this  war, 
and  served  out  his  time  with  distinction.  At  the  close 
of  the  period  of  his  enlistment  he  returned  to  his  home 
and  assisted  in  raising  a  company  for  further  service. 
He  was  elected  to  the  position  of  lieutenant  of  this 
company,  and  proceeded  with  his  command  to  the 
scene  of  action  for  a  second  campaign,  and  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war.  General  Bate  then  returned  to 
his  home  and  was  shortly  afterward  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature.  At  this  time  he  was  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Being  so  young,  and  to  a  great  extent 
unacquainted  with  the  ways  of  the  political  world,  his 
friends  were  fearful  of  his  chances  of  election.  Yet 
he  made  the  campaign  lively  to  his  competitors,  and 
was  elected  as  representative  from  Sumner  county. 

As  a  debater,  General  Bate  was  pleasant  and  affable, 
a  good  reasoner,  and  a  man  of  dignified  bearing  and 
remarkable  oratorical  powers.  As  a  member  of  the 
legislature  he  was  an  able  and  influential  member.  He 
soon  became  a  leader  in  his  party. 

At  the  close  of  his  first  session  as  representative  he 
entered  the  profession  of  law  at  Gallatin,  and  during  a 
portion  of  his  early  professional  life  was  editor  of  a 


360  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

weekly  paper.  As  a  lawyer  he  was  remarkable  for 
his  knowledge  of  men.  He  could  read  character  at  a 
glance,  and  used  this  knowledge  successfully  in  the  se- 
lection of  jurymen.  In  1854  he  was  elected  to  the 
position  of  Attorney-general  of  the  Nashville  district, 
and  served  the  State  for  six  years.  In  1860  he  was  a 
candidate  on  the  Breckinridge  electoral  ticket,  and  made 
a  vigorous  and  spirited  campaign. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war  he  raised  and  or- 
ganized the  Second  Tennessee  Regiment,  and  was 
elected  its  commander  as  colonel.  Proceeding  with 
his  regiment  to  the  scene  of  hostilities  he  served  in  the 
campaigns  on  the  Potomac,  and  led  his  regiment  in  the 
first  battle  of  Manassas.  His  regiment  was  afterward 

cT>  ,: 

transferred  to  the  Western  Army  under  Johnston,  and 
figured  prominently  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 

In  the  last-named  battle  General  Bate  received  a  se- 
vere wound,  and  was  thereby  disabled  for  the  greater 
portion  of  the  ensuing  year.  For  gallantry  displayed 
on  the  field  of  Shiloh  h  •  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general,  and  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade. 
Returning  to  his  command  before  his  \vounds  had 
healed,  he  led  his  brigade  in  all  the  battles  of  the  West- 
ern Army. 

During  the  Georgia  campaign  he  wa*s  made  a  major- 
general,  in  which  capacity  he  served  till  the  collapse  of 
the  Confederate  cause-. 

As  a  soldier  he  possessed  the  essential  qualities  of  a 
commander.  Careful  of  his  men  in  camp  and  on  the 
field,  he  was  appreciated  by  them  and  loved  as  a  leader. 
Careful  of  the  rights  of  citizens,  he  always  looked  care- 
fully to  the  protection  of  their  property  and  premises 
when  in  the  vicinity  of  his  encampment.  With  a  pro- 
found respect  for  the  moral  and  religious  status  of  his 


GENERAL  HOOD.  361 

men,  he  afforded  every  assistance  to  the  chaplain,  to 
whom  he  extended  the  hospitalities  of  his  tent  and 
table.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  at  divine  service, 
and  as  a  commander  he  showed  by  example  his  solici- 
tude for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  men  and  his  respect 
for  the  Christian  religion.  As  a  citizen  he  is  sociable 
and  pleasant,  and  combines  all  the  sterling  qualities  of 
the  true  gentleman. 

General  Bate  is  at  present  the  Governor  of  Tennes- 
see, to  which  position  he  was  elected  in  1882,  and  re- 
elected  in  1884.  As  an  occupant  of  the  executive  chair 
he  discharges  its  duties  with  that  ability  and  integrity 
that  have  ever  characterized  every  department  of  his 
private  and  public  life. 


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  JOHN  B.  HOOD. 

This  officer  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
Tennessee  early  in  July,  1864,  and  continued  in  com- 
mand in  the  battles  around  Atlanta  and  in  the  Ten- 
nessee campaign 'till  after  the  battles  of  Franklin  and 
Nashville.  His  military  career  was  an  unfortunate  one, 
and  its  record  is  a  catalogue  of  reverses.  He  was  a 
gallant  officer,  and  was  justly  entitled  "the  bravest  of 
the  brave,"  but  was  lacking  in  that  discretion  so  nec- 
essary to  his  position  at  the  time  he  was  placed  in  com- 
mand, and  which  in  this  instance  would  have  been 
truly  "  the  better  part  of  valor."  As  the  Confederate 
authorities  saw  proper  to  displace  the  renowned  Gen- 
eral Joseph  E.  Johnston  with  General  Hood,  a  few 
points  in  the  record  of  this  general's  history  will  be 
given. 

General  John  B.  Hood  was  born  in  Owensville,  Bath 


362  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

county,  Ky.,  June  28,  1831,  and  was  brought  up  at 
Mount  Sterling,  Montgomery  county,  Ky.,  where  he 
received  his  early  education.  He  entered  upon  his  col- 
legiate studies  at  West  Point  in  1849,  an^  graduated  in 
1853.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Fourth  Infantry, 
in  California,  where  he  served  for  two 'years.  He  was 
then  transferred  to  the  Second  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  in  which  R.  E. 
Lee  was  lieutenant-colonel.  Van  Dorn,  Kirby  Smith, 
Fields,  Evans,  and  Hardee,  afterward  generals  in  the 
Confederate  army,  were  members  of  this  regiment.  In 
1855,  Hood  was  assigned  to  the  Texas  frontier,  and  in 
July  of  the  following  year  was  wounded  in  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Indians  on  Devil  River.  Shortly  after 
this  he  was  ordered  to  report  for  duty  at  West  Point. 
Having  become  attached  to  Texas  during  his  service 
there,  he  asked  to  be  retained  on  the  Texas  frontier, 
both  as  a  matter  of  choice  and  policy.  Owing  to  the 
threatening  aspect  of  national  affairs,  and  his  sympathy* 
with  the  South,  his  desire  was  to  be  where  he  could 
look  after  her  interests  in  the  impending  struggle.  The 
struggle  came,  as  expected.  On  April  16,  1861,  he  re- 
signed his  commission  in  the  United  States  Army,  and 
tendered  his  services  to  the  Confederacy.  He  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  in  the  Confederate  serv- 
ice and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Lee,  in  Virginia. 
General  Lee  ordered  him  to  report  to  General  Magru- 
der,  on  the  Peninsula.  He  was  immediately  placed  in 
command  of  all  the  cavalry  on  the  Peninsula,  and  pro- 
moted to  captain.  On  September  30  he  was  commis- 
sioned colonel,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Richmond, 
where  he  "was  placed  in  command  of  the  Fourth  Texas 
Infantry.  This  regiment  had  been  for  some  time  dis- 
turbed by  a  faction  and  could  not  organize.  A  portion 


GENERAL  HOOD.  363 

of  its  men  wanted  Colonel  Allen,  of  Texas,  to  com- 
mand them,  while  a  portion  of  the  officers  were  op- 
posed to  the  measure.  Colonel  Hood  took  command 
of  the  regiment,  and  the  appointment  was  satisfactory. 

The  Fourth  and  Fifth  Texas  Regiments  were  organ- 
ized into  a  brigade  on  November  12,  and  placed  under 
command  of  Colonel  Wigfall,  who  had  recently  been 
appointed  brigadier-general.  General  Wigfall  had 
been  elected  to  the  Confederate  States  Senate,  and  re- 
signed his  commission  as  brigadier-general  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Confederate  Congress.  Colonel  Hood  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  and  placed 
in  command  of  Wigfall's  brigade.  Shortly  afterward 
he  was  commissioned  major-general  and  assigned  to 
duty  in  Longstreet's  corps,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
till  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  where  he  lost  a 
leg  in  the  first  day's  fight. 

As  soon  as  General  Hood  recovered  from  the  ampu- 
tation of  his  limb  at  Chickamauga,  he  was  promoted 
to  a  lieutenant-general  and  assigned  to  the  command 
of  a  corps  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  In  the  Georgia 
campaign  Hood's  corps  occupied  the  left  of  Johnston's 
army.  Every  retreat  in  that  campaign  was  the  result 
of  Hood's  inability  to  cover  the  enemy's  right.  Shortly 
after  the  retreat  from  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Hood  su- 
perseded Johnston  and  took  command  of  the  whole 
army.  This  measure  met  the  bitter  disapprobation  of 
many  of  the  division  commanders,  most  prominent  of 
whom  was  General  Cleburne.  The  remainder  of 
Hood's  military  record  has  been  briefly  stated  in  an- 
other place.  A  brave  and  intelligent  officer,  he  had 
risen  repeatedly,  from  a  lieutenant  of  the  ranks  to  be 
commander  in  chief  of  a  department  and  army.  Yet 
his  last  promotion  placed  him  in  an  unenviable  position. 


364  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

The  Confederate  resources  were  exhausted.  In  the 
agonies  of  desperation  the  armies  and  people  of  the 
Confederacy  were  hoping  against  hope,  and  their  only 
vision  of  success  lay  beyond  the  accomplishment  of 
impossibilities.  Hood  took  command  with  these  facts 
staring  him  in  the  face.  He  hurled  his  columns  upon 
the  fortifications  of  the  enemy  only  to  be  slaughtered 
and  repulsed  by  their  superior  numbers.  Atlanta 
was  given  up,  and  Hood  was  in  a  few  months 
pushing,  by  a  flank  movement,  upon  the  outposts 
of  Nashville.  At  Franklin  he  made  his  last  blun- 
der. The  works  of  the  enemy  were  assaulted,  and 
after  a'  desperate  battle  the  enemy  gave  back,  though 
the  position  could  have  been  easily  flanked.  These 
pitched  battles  from  the  Chattahoochee  to  Jonesboro, 
thence  to  Franklin  and  Nashville,  involved  a  reckless 
and  deplorable  slaughter  of  the  Confederates.  The 
enemy  were  masters  of  the  field.  They  were  always 
prepared  for  those  assaults.  The  Confederates  would 
move  up  to  the  attack  with  that  coolness  and  steadi- 
ness of  courage  that  is  without  a  parallel  in  history,  and 
were  mowed  down  by  the  raking  of  musketry  and 
canister  from  the  enemv's  works.  They  did  all  that 
brave  men  could  do.  The  enemy  boasted  of  their  su- 
perior numbers,  and  of  Hood's  weakness  in  throwing 
his  columns  upon  their  works  to  be  mowed  down  as 
wheat  before  the  scythes,  yet 

No  vulgar  crop  was  theirs  to  reap — 
No  stinted  harvest  thin  and  cheap — 
Heroes  before  each  fatal  sweep 

Fell  thick  as  ripened  grain. 
And  ere  the  darkening  of  the  day, 
Piled  high  as  autumn  shocks  they  lav, 
The  ghastly  harvest  of  the  fray, 

The  corpses  of  the  slain. 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  365 

The  brave  Confederates  were  never  found  wanting 
in  courage.  To  them  death  had  no  terrors.  They  ap- 
proached and  embraced  it,  linked,  as  it  was,  hand  in 
hand  with  glory,  waiting  to  be  wooed  and  won  by  the 
daring:  and  the  brave. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  P.  R.  CLEBURNE. 

This  gallant  officer  of  the  Confederate  army  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  was  born  at  Bride  Park  Cottage, 
on  the  river  Bride,  county  Cork,  Ireland,  March  17, 
1828.  This  place  is  about  ten  miles  west  of  the  city  of 
Cork.  His  father,  Dr.  Joseph  Cleburne,  was  a  physi- 
cian of  considerable  note,  and  was  a  graduate  of  med- 
icine from  the  University  of  London,  and  of  surgery 
from  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  at  Dublin.  He 
was  of  an  old  Tipperary  family,  originally  of  English 
stock. 

General  Cleburne's  mother,  Mary  Ann  Cleburne, 
was  the  second  daughter  of  Patrick  Rouayne,  Esq.,  of 
Annebrook,  on  the  Island  of  Cork.  .  This  name  has 
been  preserved  in  the  family,  having  passed  through 
four  generations.  General  Cleburne  was  named  after 
his  maternal  grandfather,  and  having  been  born  on  St. 
Patrick's  day,  he  had  a  double  title  to  the  name  given 
him. 

When  General  Cleburne  was  three  years  old  his 
mother  died.  About  one  year  after,  Dr.  Cleburne  mar- 
ried a  second  wife — Miss  Isabella  Stewart,  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  Scotch  clergyman.  This  woman  was  kind- 
hearted  and  intelligent,  and  bestowed  great  care  and 
attention  in  the  education  of  the  step-children  thus 
placed  under  her  charge. 


366  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

From  Dr.  Cleburne's  first  marriage  there  were  four 
children — three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Their  names, 
in  the  order  of  their  ages,  were:  William  Cleburne, 
Annie  Cleburne  (now  Mrs,  Sherlock,  of  Omaha), 
Patrick  Rouayne  Cleburne,  and  Joseph  Cleburne — all 
of  whom,  except  General  Cleburne,  are  now  living. 

From  the  second  marriage  there  were  four  children, 
whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  were:  Isa- 
bella Cleburne,  Edward  Warren  Cleburne,  Robert 
Stewart  Cleburne,  and  Christopher  S.  Cleburne.  Of 
the  latter  family  only  two  are  now  living.  Edward 
Warren  Cleburne  went  to  sea,  and  died  of  yellow 
fever,  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  several  years  ago.  The 
youngest,  Christopher  S.  Cleburne,  was  a  captain  in 
the  Second  Kentucky  Cavalry  of  Morgan's  command, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cloyd's  Farm,  near 
Dublin  Depot,  Va.,  May  10,  1864,  in  the  twenty-first 
year  of  his  age.  William  Cleburne  is  engaged  in  civil 
engineering,  and  resides  in  Oregon.  Robert  S.  Cle- 
burne resides  in  Cincinnati,  and  is  also  a  civil  engineer. 

General  Cleburne's  early  education  was  under  the 
care  of  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he 
was  placed  in  school  under  a  teacher  named  Spedding, 
of  the  Established  Church.  As  a  boy  he  was  fond  of 
childish  sports  and  innocent  amusements.  He  had  a 
high  sense  of  honor  and  a  keen  sense  of  disgrace.  He 
was  fond  of  history,  poetry,  and  travels.  For  Latin 
and  Greek  he  seemed  to  have  but  little  taste,  though 
his  preference  for  mathematics  was  quite  prominent. 
His  father  possessed  a  good  income  from  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and  had  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres. 
Having  a  taste  for  experimental  farming,  he  sunk  in 
this  what  he  made  out  of  his  profession,  and  when  he 
died  in  1844,  he  left  but  a  small  estate  to  divide  between 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  367 

his  widow  and  eight  children.  This  caused  General 
Cleburne  to  look  around  for  some  means  of  support, 
and  he  apprenticed  himself  to  Dr.  Justice,  who  kept  a 
drug-store  in  the  little  town  of  Mallow.  Had  chem- 
ical tastes  and  pharmaceutical  studies  been  the  only  re- 
quirements to  advancement  in  this  line  of  business, 
General  Cleburne,  perhaps,  would  have  never  been 
known  outside  of  the  little  village  of  Mallow  and  its 
vicinity. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    P.    R.    CLEBURNE. 

The  first  prerequisite  to  advancement  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  his  choice  was  a  thorough  knowledge  of  Latin 
and  Greek.  Unfortunately  this  was  his  weakest  point, 
and  when  he  appeared  for  his  preliminary  examination 
at  the  Apothecaries'  Hall  in  Dublin,  he  failed  to  pass 
the  necessary  examination.  Being  eighteen  years  old 
at  this  time,  General  Cleburne  felt  his  disgrace  so 
keenly  that  he  resolved  that  his  family  should  never 
again  see  a  member  who  had  disgraced  them,  and, 


368  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

without  disclosing  his  intentions  to  any  one,  he  enlisted 
in  the  Forty-first  Regiment  of  foot,  then  stationed  at 
Dublin,  and  daily  expecting  to  be  ordered"  to  foreign 
parts.  No  one  of  his  family  or  friends  knew  any  thing 
of  his  whereabouts  for  a  year.  Through  Captain 
Pratt,  an  officer  of  the  regiment,  and  son  of  the  Rector 
of  Desartmore — a  parish  adjoining  that  of  the  Cleburne 
family — his  whereabouts  were  discovered.  This  cap- 
tain visited  the  family,  and  had  General  Cleburne 
thought  of  this  he  would  have  enlisted  under  an  as- 
sumed name,  as  he  afterward  remarked  to  his  friends. 
His  discharge  was  procured  a  year  or  so  afterward, 
with  a  portion  of  the  means  that  had  fallen  to  him,  and 
in  company  with  a  sister  and  two  brothers  he  sailed 
from  Queenstown,  November  n,  1849,  *n  ^ie  Dai"k 
Bridgetown,  under  command  of  Captain  Mills.  The 
vessel  landed  at  New  Orleans  on  Christmas-day. 

General  Cleburne  proceeded  immediately  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  received  employment  as  prescription 
clerk  in  the  drug-store  of  a  Mr.  Salter,  on  Broadway. 
The  sister  and  brothers  joined  him  soon  afterward.  In 
a  short  time  he  located  in  Helena,  Ark.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  drug  business,  and  afterward  studied  law 
and  formed  a  partnership  at  Helena  with  Judge  L.  H. 
Man  gum. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out  in  1861,  both  members 
of  this  firm  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service,  and 
were  together  till  the  death  of  General  Cleburne. 
General  Cleburne  was  made  captain  of  Company  A, 
Fifteenth  Arkansas  Regiment,  and  at  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  was  made  colonel.  He  was  soon  af- 
terward promoted  to  brigadier-general  and  placed  in 
command  of  the  following  regiments:  Twenty-third 
Tennessee,  Lieutenant-colonel  Neil;  Sixth  Mississippi, 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  369 

Colonel  Thornton;  Fifth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Ben.  J. 
Hill;  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Mat.  Martin; 
Fifteenth  Arkansas,  Lieutenant-colonel  Patton;  Sec- 
ond Tennessee,  Colonel  William  B.  Bate. 

The  above  regiments  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Shi- 
loh.  The  brigade  consisted  of  -two  thousand  seven 
hundred  men,  of  whom  the  casualties  were  one  thou- 
sand. In  his  official  report  of  this  battle,  General  Cle- 
burne  made  honorable  mention  of  the  following  parties 
for  gallantry  displayed  upon  the  field:  Privates  William 
Dixon,  Fifteenth  Arkansas;  William  Pierce,  Fifteenth 
Arkansas;  W.  H.  Kinney,  Fifteenth  Arkansas;  H. 
A.  Sales,  Fifteenth  Arkansas;  Sergeant  T.  H.  Osborn, 
Fifteenth  Arkansas;  Lieutenant  Josey,  Fifteenth  Ar- 
kansas; Colonel  Ben.  J.  Hill,  Fifth  Tennessee;  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Peebles,  Twenty  -  fourth  Tennessee; 
LieutenanfR.  H.  Keeble,  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee; 
Captain  Ridley,  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee;  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Neil,  Twenty-fourth  Tennessee.  In  this  battle 
Colonel  Bate,  the  present  Governor  of  Tennessee,  was 
severely  wounded. 

General  Cleburne  was  promoted  to  major-general 
shortly  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  assigned  to  the 
command  of  a  division  in  Hardee's  corps. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  of  Gen- 
eral Cleburne's  staff',  with  rank  and  date  of  service,  as 
furnished  from  Confederate  archives  at  Washington, 
D.  C.: 

Calhoun  Bonham,  Major  and  A.  A.  G.,  December,  1862—3. 
Irving  A.  Buck,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G.,  December,  1862-3. 
C.  H.  Byrne,  Captain  and  Volunteer  A.  D.  C.,  December,  1862-3. 
J.  R.  Dixon,  Major  and  A.  A.  and  I.'G.,  December,  1862-3. 
J.  H.  Erskine,  M.  D.,  Medical  Inspector,  1863. 
S.  P.  Hanly,  First  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1862-3. 
24 


370  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Charles  S.  Hill,  Captain  and  Ordnance  Officer,  1863. 
T.  R.  Hotchkiss,  Captain,  1863. 

J.  W.  Jetton,  Second  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1861. 
John  M.  Johnson,  M.  D.,  Chief  Surgeon,  1863. 
W.  W.  Kirkland,  Colonel  and  Chief  of  Staff,  1863. 

A.  S.  Landers,  Major  and  A.  Q^M.,  1861. 
R.  C.  Sanford,  Major  and  A.  C.  S.,  1861. 

D.  A.  Linthicum,  M.  D.,  Chief  Surgeon,  1863-5. 
L.  H.  Mangum,  Lieutenant  and  A.  D.  C.,  1862-3. 

B.  F.  Phelps,  Captain  and  A.  A.  and  I.  G.,  1862. 
H.  Rucker,  Signal  Officer,  1863. 

H.  W.  Smith,  Signal  Officer,  1863-4. 

N.  B.  Stubblefield,  Sergeant  and  Orderly,  1861-3. 

As  a  commander  General  Cleburne  was  without  a 
superior  for  talent  and  for  skill  in  handling  troops  upon 
the  field.  He  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  soldier. 

Cleburne's  division  was  with  Bragg  in  his  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  distinguished  itself  at  Richmond,  Ky. 
While  a  portion  of  his  command  was  in  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  the  remainder  was  holding  an  important 
position  in  front  of  Covington.  At  Murfreesboro, 
Chickamauga,  and  the  hundred  days'  battles  of  the 
Georgia  campaign,  and  Hood's  Tennessee  campaign, 
this  command  was  distinguished  for  its  effective  work 
and  the  skill  and  gallantry  of  its  commander.  At 
Franklin,  General  Cleburne  fell  in  the  heaviest  of  the 
charge  upon  the  enemy's  works. 

The  battle  of  Franklin  was  an  unfortunate  affair  to 
the  remnant  of  the  Confederate  army.  Many  of  Hood's 
subordinate  generals  were  of  opinion  that  the  Federal 
force  at  Spring  Hill  could  be  captured  by  flanking  the 
position,  and  the  remainder  defeated  in  detail  before  it 
could  reach  Nashville  or  be  re-enforced.  General  Cle- 
burne urged  the  policy  of  a  flank  movement,  and  his 
counsel  partially  prevailed.  His  division  succeeded  in 


GENERAL  CLKBURNE. 


371 


gaining  the  rear  of  the  enemy  at  Spring  Hill,  and  he 
had  his  men  posted  along  the  pike.  While  await- 
ing orders  to  attack,  by  which,  with  little  loss,  he  could 
have  cut  off  their  retreat  and  forced  their  surrender, 
the  commanding  general  seemed  to  change  his  pur- 


'^^^^^'•'•v^^ 

N.    B.    STUBBLEFIELD. 

pose,  and  through  the  usual  channel  ordered  Cleburne 
not  to  attack  the  enemy  until  further  orders.  Thus 
Cleburne.  after  he  had  placed  the  enemy  virtually  in 
his  power  by  his  skillful  generalship,  was  forbidden  to 


372  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

strike  the  blow  that  was  only  necessary  to  secure  the 
victory  at  small  sacrifice  and  gain  Franklin  without  a 
struggle.  Cleburne  was  forced  to  remain  all  night  by 
the  road-side  and  let  the  enemy  pass  within  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  of  his  lines,  going  safely  into  Franklin.  Cle- 
burne was  eager  to  strike  the  blow,  and  when  he  saw 
that  he  was  denied  the  privilege  he  was  deeply  moved. 
The  battle  of  Franklin  followed  the  next  day. 

DEATH  OF  GENERAL  PAT.  R.  CLEBURNE. 

The  following  is  a  true  and  correct  account  of  the 
last  battle  and  death  of  Major-general  Patrick  R.  Cle- 
burne, as  given  by  Judge  L.  H.  Mangum,  his  law  part- 
ner before  the  war,  a  member  of  his  staff,  and  one  of 
his  most  intimate  friends: 

"  It  is  due  to  history  and  the  memory  of  General 
Cleburne,  that  a  correct  account  should  be  written  as 
to  the  part  his  division  performed  at  Spring  Hill  and 
Franklin,  and  the  circumstances  attending  his  death 
and  burial. 

"  I  have  read  many  different  descriptions,  but  never 
a  correct  one,  of  the  part  taken  by  Cleburne  and  his 
division  at  those  two  places.  The  most  of  the  articles 
that  have  been  written  upon  the  battle  of  Franklin 
, read,  to  those  who  participated  in  that  terrible  slaugh- 
ter, like  a  romance;  especially  so  the  account  of  the 
battle  and  the  death  of  General  Cleburne,  written  by 
Mr.  E.  L.  Roberts,  and  published  in  a  number  of 
Southern  papers.  A  letter  published  a  short  time  since 
by  Mr.  M.  Quad,  in  the  Vicksburg  Herald,  is  an  ex- 
ception to  most  of  the  articles  written  upon  the  battle 
of  Franklin  and  death  of  Cleburne,  and  is  correct  in 
the  main. 

"  I  will  write  of,  and  describe,  things  as  they  actually 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  373 

occurred,  and  not  as  I  might  picture  them  in  my  imag- 
ination. In  doing  so  I  will  endeavor,  as  far  as  circum- 
stances will  permit,  in  order  to  write  the  truth,  not  to 
reflect  upon  the  official  conduct  or  military  skill  of  any 
officer,  for  that  can  now  do  no  good,  although  there 
was  a  terrible  blunder  at  Spring  Hill  that  cost  the  lives 
of  thousands  of  the  best  men  in  the  army. 

"  On  the  morning  of  November  29,  1864,  Cleburne's 
division  crossed  Duck  River  at  Davis's  Ford,  and,  by  a 
circuitous  route,  marched  rapidly  to  Spring  Hill.  Cle- 
burne's division  was  composed  of  four  brigades,  viz.: 
Granberry's  Texas  brigade,  Govan's  Arkansas  brigade, 
Lowry's  brigade,  composed  of  Alabama  and  Missis- 
sippi troops,  and  Mercer's  Georgia  brigade,  command- 
ed by  General  J.  A.  Smith.  The  latter  brigade  was 
left  on  duty  at  Florence,  Ala.,. and  did  not  reach  the 
command  until  after  the  battle  of  Franklin.  Late  in 
the  afternoon  of  that  day,  November  29,  Cleburne 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Spring  Hill  (a  village  situated 
on  the  Columbia  and  Franklin  pike,  twelve  miles  from 
Columbia  and  eleven  miles  from  Franklin),  being  the 
leading  division  of  Hood's  army.  Approaching  this 
village  on  a  road  running  at  right  angles  to  the  pike, 
upon  Cleburne's  division  crossing  McCutcheon's Creek, 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  pike,  General  Hood,  in 
person,  ordered  General  Cleburne  to  form  line  of  bat- 
tle to  the  left  of  the  road,  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  in  a  corn 
field,  then  move  forward  and  take  the  enemy's  breast- 
works that  were  just  over  the  brow  of  the  hill,  built 
principally  of  rail  piles.  Cleburne  executed  the  com- 
mand rapidly,  and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  took  the 
works  and  some  prisoners.  There  was  not  exceeding 
a  regiment  of  Federals  in  the  works,  and  those  that 
were  not  captured  ran  into  Spring  Hill.  Cleburne's 


374  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

command  was  now  in  full  view  of  Spring  Hill,  and 
not  exceeding  three  hundred  yards  from  it.  His  loss 
in  the  the  charge  was  four  killed  and  forty  -  five 
wounded.  The  Federals  had  time  to  fire  but  one  vol- 
ley when  Govan's  and  Granberry's  men  were  on  the 
works.  A  Federal  battery  on  the  pike  then  com- 
menced shelling  the  command.  Govan's  and  Granber- 
ry's brigades,  that  were  in  the  charge,  becoming  more 
or  less  scattered  running  after  the  retreating  Federals, 
Cleburne  ordered  me  to  direct  General  Cranberry,  who 
was  on  the  left  of  the  line,  to  form  his  brigade  along  a 
fence  running  parallel  with  the  pike,  and  about  two 
hundred  yards  from  it,  so  as  to  be  prepared  to  move  on 
the  pike,  remarking  at  the  time  that  he  would  see  Go- 
van.  Just  then  a  shell  bursted  over  us  and  wounded 
Cleburne's  horse  'Red  Pepper'  in  the  hip.  He  reared 
furiously  for  a  while,  and  I  remained  a  moment  to  see 
if  the  General  was  hurt.  Upon  asking  him,  I  shall 
never  forget  his  reply  and  manner,  both  showing  how 
determined  he  was  to  take  the  pike.  'No;  go  on, 
Mangum,  and  tell  Granberry  what  I  told  you.'  I  de- 
livered the  order.  Granberry  in  a  few  minutes  had  his 
brigade  formed  along  the  fence.  I  then  returned  to 
Cleburne.  In  the  meantime  Govan's  brigade  was 
formed,  and  the  Federal  battery  on  the  pike  had  re- 
treated. As  I  reached  Cleburne,  Colonel  Bostwick, 
assistant  inspector  general  on  General  Cheatham's 
staff,  rode  up  with  an  order  from  General  Cheatham 
directing  Cleburne  to  remain  where  he  was  and  not 
move  on  the  pike  until  further  orders.  This  was  near 
sunset.  But  for  the  order  delivered  by  Colonel  Bost- 
wick, Cleburne  would  have  been  on  the  pike  and  had 
possession  of  Spring  Hill  in  less  than  ten  minutes. 
Then  there  would  have  been  no  battle  of  Franklin.  As 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  375 

ordered,  Cleburne's  command  remained  in  line  of  bat- 
tle till  morning,  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  pike, 
along  which  the  entire  Federal  army  passed  that  night 
from  Columbia  to  Franklin  unmolested. 

'"On  the  morning  of  the  memorable  November  30, 
1864,  after  considerable  delay,  Hood's  army  moved 
toward  Franklin.  It  was  in  the  afternoon  before  the 
army  reached  Winston's  Ridge — a  high  ridge  some  two 
miles  south  of  Franklin.  There  a  council  of  war  was 
held,  and  General  Hood,  against  the  judgment  of  his 
best  generals,  decided  to  attack  the  almost  impregnable 
works  around  Franklin,  and,  what  was  even  worse,  to 
attack  them  in  their  strongest  point.  Cleburne  op- 
posed an  attack,  but  he  was  too  blunt  and  frank  to  have 
any  influence  with  Hood.  Cleburne  considered  the 
removal  of  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and  the  appointment  of 
General  Hood  in  his  stead  as  a  great  disaster  to  the 
army  and  Confederacy,  and  exceedingly  unwise  in 
General  Hood  accepting  the  command  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. Cleburne  had  too  little  of  the  political 
general  about  him  to  conceal  his  views;  hence  General 
Hood  had  no  good  feeling  toward  Cleburne. 

"  Dr.  D.  A.  Linthicum.  chief  surgeon  of  Cleburne's 
division — who  remained  behind  to  care  for  the  wounded 
of  the  division  in  the  skirmish  of  the  evening  before  at 
Spring  Hill — came  up  and  reported  to  General  Cle- 
burne, at  General  Hood's  head-quarters,  just  after  the 
council  of  war  was  over,  just  prior  to  the  battle;  and. 
after  General  Cleburne  was  on  his  horse,  heard  General 
Hood  say  to  him:  'General,  form  your  division  to  the 
right  of  the  pike,  letting  your  left  overlap  the  same. 
General  Brown  will  form  on  the  left  with  his  right 
overlapping  your  left.  I  wish  you  to  move  on  the  en- 
emy. Give  orders  to  your  men  not  to  fire  a  gun  until 


376  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

you  run  the  Yankee  skirmish  line  from  behind  the  first 
line  of  works  in  your  front,  then  press  them  and  shoot 
them  in  their  backs  as  they  run  to  their  main  line;  then 
charge  the   enemy's  works.     Franklin    is    the    key  to 
Nashville,  and  Nashville  is  the  key  to  independence.' 
General   Cleburne   smiled   and    said,    'General,    I   will 
take  the  works  or  fall  in  the  effort.'     The  line  of  battle 
was  formed  on  the  north  side  of  Winston's  Ridge,  be- 
tween the  ridge  and  the  town,  fully  one  mile  from  the 
Federal  works.     Hardee's  old  corps,  then  commanded 
by  General  Cheatham,  on  the  left,  and  Stewart's  corps 
on  the  right,  Cleburne's  division  on  the  right  of  Cheat- 
ham's  corps,  his  left  guiding  on  the  pike;  then  Cheat- 
ham's   old   division,  commanded  by   General  John   C. 
Brown,  his  right  guiding  on   the  pike;  Bate's  division 
on  the  left  of  the  corps  and  army.     Cleburne  marched 
forward  with   two   brigades   in   front — Granberry  and 
Govan — Lowry  in  the  rear.     In  a  few   moments   the 
command  was  under  a  galling  fire   from   the   enemy's 
artillery.     The  men  were  ordered  not  to  stop  or  to  fire, 
but  to  rush  upon  the  enemy's  works.     The  first  line  of 
works  in  Cleburne's  front  was  easily  taken.     This  line 
was  some  two  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  main  line 
of  breastworks.     Behind  this  first  line  Cleburne's  com- 
mand halted  a  few  moments,  preparatory  to  making  a 
charge  at  the  main  works.     Just  at  this  time  I  galloped 
up  to  Cleburne,  who  was  riding  alone  immediately  be- 
hind his  division,  about  the   center.     Previous  to  this, 
Cleburne  had  ordered  me  to  locate  one  of  his  batteries 
at  a  certain  point.      Soon   after   leaving  upon  this  mis- 
sion, he  sent  Captain  S.  P.  Hanly,  one  of  his  staff,  to 
locate  the  battery,  and  for  me  to  return  to  him  immedi- 
ately.    Upon  riding   up  to  him    and   asking   him  what 
he  wanted,  he  replied:  'It  is  too  late,'  and  directed  me 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.-  377 

to  go  with  Cranberry's  brigade.  He  then  turned  his 
horse  toward  the  right  and  galloped  up  to  Govan's 
brigade.  The  whole  line  was  then  rushing  madly  for 
the  enemy's  works.  That  was  the  last  time  I  saw  Gen- 
eral Cleburne  alive. 

"The  space  between  the  enemy's  first  line  and  the 
main  line  was  about  two  hundred  yards.  The  ground 
was  level,  and  I  don't  think  there  was  a  tree  or  bush 
between  them.  The  fire  and  destruction  were  beyond 
description.  I  went  up  to  the  works  with  Granberry's 
brigade.  Generals  Granberry  and  Govan,  and  their 
stafF,  were  on  foot.  About  half  way  between  the  first 
and  main  line  General  Granberry  was  killed.  I  was 
within  ten  feet  of  him,  and  remember  well  the  last 
words  he  spoke:"' Forward,  men;  never  le^t  it  be  said 
that  Texans  lag  in  the  fight.'  As  he  spoke  these  words, 
a  ball  struck  him  in  the  cheek  and  passed  through  his 
brain.  Throwing  both  hands  to  his  face  he  sunk  down 
on  his  knees  and  remained  in  that  position  until  his 
body  was  taken  oft'  the  field  after  the  battle.  Better 
soldiers  and  braver  men  were  never  marshalled  than 
this  Texas  brigade,  and  Granberry  was,  in  every  way, 
worthy  to  command  such  a  brigade  of  heroes.  Well 
may  the  Lone  Star  State  be  proud  of  every  man  in 
that  brigade. 

"  When  I  last  saw  General  Cleburne  he  was  going 
up  toward  the  enemy's  works,  mounted  on  a  brown 
mare  belonging  to  Lieutenant  Tip  Stanton,  of  his 
escort,  from  Natchez,  Miss.  This  mare  was  killed 
seventy -five  or  a  hundred  yards  from  the  works. 
Young  Brandon,  of  Mississippi,  a  member  of  General 
Cleburne's  escort,  dismounted  and  offered  his  horse  to 
him.  While  Cleburne  was  in  the  act  of  mounting,  the 
horse  was  shot  dead  by  many  bullets.  Then  Cleburne 


378  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

rushed  on  foot  for  the  works.  He  must  have  been 
killed  between  where  his  last  horse  was  shot  and  the 
works,  about  where  M.  Quad  says  he  found  his  body 
next  morning. 

"  The  sun  was  not  over  half  an  hour  high  when  the 
battle  began,  and  did  not  last  exceeding  an  hour.  Cle- 
burne's  division  never  made  seven  charges,  as  Mr. 
Roberts  states,  but  only  one.  Those  of  the  division 
thai  were  not  killed  or  wounded  reached  the  enemy's 
breastworks,  but  were  unable  to  scale  them,  so  they  re- 
mained in  the  ditch  dug  along  the  breastwork  until  the 
Federals  retreated,  which  was  about  eleven  o'clock 
that  night.  By  twelve  o'clock  General  Lowry  had 
guards  all  over  town.  Men  were  detailed,  and  lights 
procured,  to  hunt  for  General  Cleburne,  but  I  soon 
stopped  them  upon  being  told  by  a  Confederate  soldier 
that  he  had  been  captured  and  made  his  escape — that 
he  saw  General  Cleburne  passing  through  Franklin,  a 
prisoner. 

"  One,  not  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  might  think  it 
strange  that  such  a  conspicuous  character  as  General 
Cleburne  should  be  killed  and  his  death  not  witnessed 
by  any  one;  but  the  fire  was  so  terrific  and  the  smoke 
so  dense  that  one  could  not  distinguish  an  object  at 
twenty  feet  distant.  The  morning  after  the  battle  in- 
formation came  to  our  head-quarters  that  General  Cle- 
burne's  body  was  found.  I  immediatelv  went  in  search 
of  it  and  found  it  laid  out  on  the  gallery  ofcthe  Mc- 
Gavock  brick  house — boots,  pocket-book,  diary,  and 
sword-belt  gone.  I  afterward  found  the  latter  on  a 
soldier,  who  claimed  to  have  found  it.  His  (General 
Cleburne's)  face  was  covered  with  a  ludy's  handker- 
chief finely  embroidered.  Who  placed  his  body  there 
I  have  never  been  able  to  ascertain,  and  never  knew 


GENERAL  CLEBURNK.  379 

who  found  it  until  I  read  M.  Quad's  letter.  General 
Cleburne  received  but  one  wound,  and  that  was  from 
a  minnie  ball  which  passed  through  his  body.  I  pro- 
cured coffins  for  Generals  Cleburne  and  Cranberry, 
and  Colonel  Young,  of  the  Tenth  Texas,  carried  their 
remains  to  Columbia  for  interment,  sent  a  courier  ahead 
to  have  three  graves  dug  in  some  suitable  place  in  the 
country  there;  reached  Columbia  late  in  the  evening. 
The  remains  of  these  three  heroes  lay,  during  that 
night,  in  the  parlor  of  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Polk.  While  the 
body  of  Cleburne  was  lying  in  Mrs.  Folk's  parlor,  the 
following  verses  were  placed  upon  his  coffin,  written 
by  the  talented  and  accomplished  Miss  Naomi  Hays, 
niece  of  ex-President  Polk,  who  afterward  married  the 
late  lamented  Major  W.  E.  Moore,  chief  commissary 
of  the  Army  of  Tennessee: 

Fare  thee  well,  departed  chieftain! 

Erin's  land  sends  forth  a  wail, 
And  O  my  country  sad  laments  thee, 

Passed  so  late  through  Death's  dark  vale! 
Blow,  ye  breezes,  softly  o'er  him, 

Fan  his  brow  with  gentlest  breath; 
Disturb  ye  not  the  peaceful  slumber — 

Cleburne  sleeps  the  sleep  of  death. 
Rest  thee,  Cleburne,  tears  of  sadness 

Flow  from  hearts  thou  'st  nobly  won; 
Mem'ry  ne'er  will  cease  to  cherish 

Deeds  of  glory  thou  hast  done. 

"Funeral  rites  were  performed  the  next  day  by  the 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Quintarcl.  The  bodies  were  borne 
to  the  cemetery  and  placed  in  graves  beside  General 
Strahl  and  Lieutenant  Marsh,  of  his  staff.  After  the 
burial,  I  discovered  that  these  gallant  men  were  buried 
in  that  portion  of  the  cemetery  known  as  the  'potters' 
field,'  between  a  row  of  negroes  and  Federal  soldiers." 


380  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

I  felt  very  indignant,  and  so  expressed  myself.  Gen- 
eral Lucien  J.  Polk,  brother  to  General  and  Bishop 
Leonidas  Polk,  was  present,  and  most  kindly  offered 
me  a  lot  in  the  Ashwood  Cemetery,  six  miles  south  of 
Columbia,  which  kind  and  generous  offer  I  most  thank- 
fully accepted.  The  next  day  I  obtained  a  detail  from 
the  commandant  of  the  post  and  disinterred  Generals 
Cleburne,  Cranberry,  and  Strahl,  Colonel  Young,  and 
Lieutenant  Marsh.  I  disinterred  General  Strahl  and 
Lieutenant  Marsh  at  the  request  of  Bishop  Quintard. 
Having  only  a  slight  acquaintance  with  those  gentle- 
men, I  did  not  feel  authorized  to  remove  their  remains 
from  where  their  friends  had  planted  them,  but  did  so 
at  the  earnest  request  of  Bishop  Quintard,  who  I  knew 
was  a  warm  friend  of  General  Strahl  and  Lieutenant 
Marsh.  Five  graves  were  dug  in  Ashwood  Cemetery, 
in  a  row,  where  Fburied  these  five  noble  and  gallant 
soldiers. 

"Upon  my  return  to  the  division,  then  around  Nash- 
ville, I  stated  to  General  Cleburne's  staff  where  I  had 
buried  our  general.  Captain  Hill,  ordnance  officer, 
related  what  Cleburne  said  to  him  w^hile  riding  through 
Ashwood  Cemetery,  about  which  so  much  has  been 
said  and  written.  Commenting  upon  the  beauty  of  the 
grounds,  he  said:  'It  would  not  be  hard  to  die  if  one 
could  be  buried  in  such  a  beautiful  spot.'  He  never 
expressed  himself,  as  Mr.  Roberts  said  in  the  Philadel- 
phia Times,  '  If  I  fall  in  the  coming  fight,  bury  me 
here  at  Ashwood.' 

"In  1869,  at  the  request  of  many  friends,  and  the 
Ladies'  Confederate  Memorial  Association  of  Phillips 
county,  Ark.,  Dr.  H.  M.  Grant,  an  old  friend  of  Gen- 
eral Cleburne,  and  myself  brought  the  remains  of  Gen- 
eral Cleburne  from  Ashwood  to  Helena,  and  buried 


GENERAL  CLEBURNE.  381 

them  in  the  Confederate  burying-grounds,  where,  Gen- 
eral Cleburne's  friends  feel  satisfied,  that  could  his 
wishes  have  been  ascertained,  he  would  have  chosen  to 
be  placed  at  rest. 

"No  monument  has  ever  been  placed  over  Cle- 
burne's grave  by  the  Ladies'  Confederate  Memorial 
Association  of  Phillips  county.  The  only  marks  that 
show  his  grave  are  the  marble  head  and  foot  stones, 
brought  with  his  remains  from  Ashwood,  where  they 
were  placed  soon  after  the  war  closed  by  the  ladies  of 
that  neighborhood,  with  this  inscription  on  it: 

'  Major-general  P.  R.  CLEBURNE, 

Of  the  Confederate  Army. 

Born  in  the  county  Cork,  Ireland. 

Killed  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  30,  1864.' 

"  Mr.  Roberts  has  been  very  erroneously  informed  as 
to  Cleburne's  personal  appearance  and  early  life.  Cle- 
burne  was  not  'weak  and  rather  wan.'  On  the  con- 
trary, he  was  six  feet  high,  broad-shouldered,  but  spare 
built,  very  active,  had  remarkable  endurance;  large, 
dark  gray  eyes;  awkward  in  his  manners;  very  sensi- 
tive to  the  opinions  of  the  world,  but  a  stranger  would 
suppose  him  indifferent  to  them;  a  poor  conversation- 
alist; exceedingly  absent-minded,  except  when  on«duty 
and  the  battle-field;  perfectly  indifferent  to  danger; 
possessed  of  fine  literary  attainments;  very  fond  of  la- 
dies' society,  but  always  app'eared  embarrassed  when 
in  their  company.  A  purer  and  more  honorable  man 
never  lived,  yet  these  noble  qualities  were  only  known 
and  appreciated  fully  by  his  intimate  friends.  He  had, 
to  perfection,  that  noble  trait  of  character  always  to 
make  the  amende  honorable;  never  hesitating  to  apol- 
ogize when  in  the  wrong.  He  illustrated  this  on  one 


382  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

occasion  most  generously  toward  General  John  C. 
Brown,  afterward  governor  of  Tennessee.  The  Army 
of  Tennessee,  retreating  from  Middle  Tentiessee  to 
Chattanooga,  camped  at  what  was  then  called  Univer- 
sity Station — now  Sewanee.  Early  in  the  morning  he 
filed  his  division  in  the  road,  when  he  found  a  brigade 
marching*  in  front.  This  annoyed  him  exceedingly. 
He  galloped  to  the  head  of  the  brigade  and  asked  for 
the  commander.  General  Brown,  whom  Cleburne  had 
never  met,  answered  that  he  was.  Cleburne,  in  a  per- 
emptory and  insulting  manner,  upbraided  General 
.  Brown  for  violating  orders,  and  ordered  him  to  halt  his 
brigade  until  his  (Cleburne's)  division  could  pass.  On 
returning  to  the  head  of  his  division  he  met  General 
Hardee,  who  told  him  that  he  had  changed  the  order 
of  march  by  putting  Brown's  brigade  in  front.  Cle- 
burne, without  saying  a  word,  immediately  galloped 
rapidly  back  to  General  Brown,  and  made  to  him,  in 
the  presence  of  his  men,  a  most  ample  apology  for 
what  he  had  said  to  him.  This  little  circumstance 
made  them  warm  friends  ever  afterward. 

"  Cleburne  had  never  traveled  extensively,  as  Mr. 
Roberts  states;  nor  was  he  ever,  a  cornet  of  British 
Light  Dragoons  in  India,  nor  a  student  of  Belles  Let- 
tres.in  Paris.  In  fact,  he  was  never  in  that  city.  When 
in  his  '  teens  '  he  ran  away  from  home  and  joined  the 
British  army  in  Ireland,  remaining  in  the  service  only 
a  few  months,  when  his'family  obtained  his  discharge. 
His  father  was  a  physician  in  Ireland,  where  Cleburne 
graduated  in  pharmacy,  and  came  to  America  in  1850, 
and  was  first  employed  in  a  drug-store  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Cleburne  was  an  ardent  Whig,  a  regular  reader 
of  the  old  National  Intelligencer  and  Prentice's  Louis- 
ville Journal.  He  was  known  in  early  days  in  Helena 


BlSHOP    QUINTARD.  383 

as  an  'Irish  Whig.'  After  the  organization  of  the 
Know  Nothing  party  he  became  a  strong  Democrat, 
and  retrained  devoted  to  that  party  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  took  great  interest  in  all  Church  matters, 
and  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  Vestry 
of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  in  Helena,  Ai'k. 

"  Cleburne's  career  was  as  remarkable  as  it  was  brill- 
iant, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  day  will  not  be  far 
distant  when  a  full  history  of  his  life  will  be  published." 


BISHOP  C.  T.  QUINTARD. 

This  celebrated  divine  was  a  citizen  of  Nashville  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  was  rector  of  the  Church 
of  the  Advent.  His  ancestors  were  French  Hugue- 
nots, who  came  to  America  at  an  early  day,  and,  with 
the  Bayards,  the^Pintards,  and  the  Jays  they  formed  a 
colony  in  New  York,  which  was  called  New  Rochelle. 

Dr.  Quintard  graduated  at  Columbia  College,  New 
York,  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  studied  medicine 
and  surgery  under  the  celebrated  Dr.  Valentine  Mott, 
of  New  York,  one  of  the  most  renowned  surgeons  of 
America.  After  graduating  in  medicine  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
assistant  physicians  of  Bellevue  Hospital.  After  re- 
maining in  this  institution  for  one  year,  he  removed 
South  and  located  in  Georgia.  Here  he  practiced  his 
profession,  and  was  an  able  contributor  to  the  medical 
journals  of  the  day. 

In  1851  he  was  called  to  the  chair  of  Physiology  and 
Pathological  Anatomy  in  the  Medical  College  at  Mem- 
phis. 


384  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

Becoming  dissatisfied  with  secular  pursuits,  and  feel- 
ing himself  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  a  sublimer 
work,  he  commenced  the  study  of  theology  uftcler  the 
Rt.  Rev.  J.  H.  Otey,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and  was  by  him 
admitted  to  the  holy  order  of  deacons  in  January,  18=55. 
Resigning  his  professorhip,  he  commenced  the  duties 
of  his  sac%ed  calling,  to  which  he  has  ever  since  ar- 
duously and  faithfully  devoted  all  his  energies  and 
ability. 

In  1856  he  was  ordained  priest,  and  a  year  after  was 
called  to  the  rectorship  of  Calvary  Church,  in  Mem- 
phis. In  1858  he  resigned  the  rectorship  of  Calvary 
Church,  and  was  made  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Advent,  at  Nashville,  which  position  he  filled  till  1861, 
when  he  was  chosen  chaplain  of  the  First  Tennessee 
Regiment,  many  of  whose  men  were  members  of  his 
Church.  At  Cheat  Mountain,  in  the  autumn  of  1861, 
he  was  called  to  act  on  General  Loring's  stafF,  which 
position  he  filled  till  June,  1862,  when  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  Chattanooga  on  the  eve  of  the  Kentucky 
campaign.  Here  he  was  called  to  take  a  position  on 
General  Folk's  staff,  which  he  accepted  and  filled  till 
February,  1863.  During  all  this  time  he  had  faithfully 
filled  the  position  of  chaplain  as  well  as  staff  officer. 

In  the  spring  of  1863,  at  the  request  of  his  fellow 
chaplains,  he  was  assigned  by  General  Bragg  to  the 
charge  of  the  hospitals  of  Folk's  coi'ps.  Here  he  filled 
the  positions  of  surgeon  and  chaplain,  with  the  privi- 
lege of  free  travel  on  all  railrdads  to  the  different  points 
of  his  field  of  labor.  In  this  capacity  he  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war. 

Bishop  Quintard  always  attended  his  men  on  the 
field  in  the  event  of  a  pitched  battle.  He  never  chose 
a  position  of  safety  in  the  rear,  but  advanced  to  the 


REV.  DR.  CROSS.  385 

front  with  his  men,  to  the  very  thickest  and  hottest  of 
the  fight,  and  was  ever  prompt  to  render  surgical  as- 
sistanctf  to  the  wounded  and  speak  words  of  consola- 
tion to  the  dying. 

Throughout  the  war  Bishop  Quintard  was  a  very 
useful  as  well  as  a  pious  and  good  man.  Since  the 
close  of  the  war  he  has  been  zealous  and  faifchful  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty  pertaining  to  his  position  as 
bishop  of  his  Church.  His  present  residence  is  Se- 
wanee,  Tenn. 


REV.  JOSEPH  CROSS,  D.D. 

This  celebrated  divine  entered  the  Confederate  serv- 
ice as  chaplain  of  Colonel  Bate's  Second  Tennessee 
Regiment  in  1861.  Of  his  history  there  is  a  singular 
coincidence  of  dates.  He  was  born  in  England, 
July  4,  1813;  landed  in  America,  July  4,  1825;  joined 
the  Church,  July  4,  1826;  preached  his  first  sermpn, 
July  4,  1829;  was  married,  July  4,  1834;  ascended  Mont 
Blanc  July  4,  1857;  commissioned  chaplain  of  the  Sec- 
ond Tennessee  Regiment,  July  4,  1861. 

Dr.  Cross's  boyhood  was  spent  in  very  humble  cir- 
cumstances. His  father  came  to  America  in  1822  in 
the  hope  of  bettering  his  condition,  leaving  alf  of  his 
family  in  England,  except  one  "son,  who  accompanied 
him.  After  three  years  of  faithful  toil  he  succeeded  in 
gathering  up  enough  means  to  bring  his  family  to 
America,  where  he  had  prepared  for  them  a  home. 
During  the  father's  absence  in  America  the  health  of 
the  mother  gave  down,  and  the  children  were  placed 
upon  the  parish  for  support.  The  three  brothers  were 
apprenticed  to  farmers  of  the  neighborhood,  where 
25 


386  SKETCHES  OF  OFFICERS. 

they  remained  till  funds  arrived  with  which  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  family  to  America. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  the  New 
World  the  mother  died.  The  father  and  children  were 
established  in  their  new  home.  Here  Dr.  Cross  grew 
up  to  manhood,  and  as  he  grew  up  he  took  an  abiding 
interest  in*the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  father's  household. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  commenced  holding  prayer- 
meetings  with  the  boys  of  the  neighborhood,  and  his 
brothers  and  sisters  were  converted.  He  soon  engaged 
in  public  exhortations,  and  preached  his  first  sermon 
at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  now  felt  the  want  of  an  ed- 
ucation, and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  Oneida  Confer- 
ence Seminary,  at  Cazenovia.  When  he  arrived  at 
the  turnpike  gate  he  had  no  money,  and  pawned  his 
knife  for  his  passage  through.  He  soon  gained  an 
audience  with  the  trustees,  and  prevailed  upon  them  to 
wait  for  his  tuition  till  he  could  pay  for  it  by  teaching. 
At  the  same  time  he  perfected  arrangements  to  pay  his 
board  by  sweeping  the  rooms,  sawing  wood,  making 
fires,  and  such  other  work  as  was  needed  to  be  done 
about  the  seminary. 

During  his  stay  at  school  he  preached  every  Sab- 
bath in  the  vicinity.  He  soon  after  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, in  which  he  was  successful.  He  had  by  this  time 
become  an  able  young  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  joined  the  Conference  and  bestowed  all 
his  energies  upon  his  work  of  the  ministry. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  severance  of  the  Church 
on  political  issues,  and  Dr.  Cross  came  South  and  set- 
tled in  New  Orleans. 

By  faithful  study  he  had  become  a  learned  man,  and 
was  called  to  the  chair  of  Belles-lettres  in  Transylvania 
University.  This  was  in  the  yedr  1847,  when  New 


REV.   DR.  CROSS.  387 

Orleans  was  so  severely  .scourged  with  yellow  fever. 
Embarking  upon  a  steamer,  he  started  to  his  new  field 
of  labor,  but  was  attacked  with  yellow  fever  soon  after 
his  departure  from  New  Orleans.  In  this  trying  hour 
he  would  doubtless  have  died  but  for  the  assistance  of 
that  good  man,  Bishop  Paine,  who  happened  to  be  on 
board  the  vessel.  Bishop  Paine  nursed  him  on  the 
voyage  to  Cairo,  and  took  him  ashore  and  remained 
with  him  till  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  complete  his 
journey  to  Louisville,  and  thence  to  Harrodsburg. 

Dr.  Cross  remained  in  Kentucky  three  years.  He 
was  then  transferred  to  the  Tennessee  Conference  and 
stationed  at  Nashville,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  was  next  transferred  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where 
he  preached  four  years.  At  this  place  the  honorary 
title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him. 
While  at  Charleston  he  wrote  several  works,  and  sub- 
sequently went  to  Europe.  After  his  return  to  Amer- 
ica he  published  an  account  of  his  travels.  In  a  short 
time  he  was  called  to  a  professorship  in  Spartanburg 
Female  College,  and  afterward  to  its  presidency. 

On  the  eve  of  the  opening  of  the  war  between  the 
States  he  removed  to  Gallatin,  where  he  took  charge 
of  a  Church,  and  dwelt  there  until  the  war  commenced. 
He  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  from  its 
beginning  to  its  final  collapse.  Throughout  the  war 
Dr.  Cross  filled  the  position  of  chaplain  of  the  Second 
Tennessee,  and  other  positions  to  which  he  was  pro- 
moted. As  a  man  of  true  Christian  piety,  he  was 
prominent,  and  for  his  ability  and  goodness  in  the  dif- 
ferent phases  of  his  work,  he  was  respected,  honored, 
and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Concerning  his  history  since  the  war  the  writer 
knows  comparatively  nothing. 


388  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


OPPIGIALt 


CHAPTER  X. 

Official  Report  of  Colonel  D.  M.  Donnell,  Command- 
ing the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers, 
in  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  19  and 
20,  1863. 

MISSIONARY  RIDGE,  October  6,  1863. 

Captain: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following- 
report  of  the  part  taken  by  my  regiment,  the  Sixteenth 
Tennessee,  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  on  Septem- 
ber 19  and  20: 

The  line  of  battle  having  been  formed,  we  advanced,, 
changing-  direction  slightly  to  the  right,  through  a  corn 
field  and  a  short  distance  into  the  woods  beyond,  where 
we  found  ourselves  under  a  very  heavy  fire  from  a  bat- 
tery of  the  enemy  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
in  front  of  the  left  wing  of  my  regiment.  This  fire 
wounded  a  considerable  number  of  my  men,  who  re- 
tired from  the  field;  and  at  the  same  time  a  number  of 
others  fell  back  ten  or  fifteen  paces,  to  seek  protection 
behind  trees.  This  for  a  moment  induced  the  belief 
that  the  line  was  giving  way,  but  the  men  maintained 
their  position,  firing  as  rapidly  as  they  could  through 
the  thick  undergrowth,  which  very  much  obstructed 
the  view  of  the  enemy,  for  about  three  hours,  when  I 


COLONEL  DONNELL. 


389 


received  an  order  from  Brigadier-general  M.  J.  Wright 
to  retire,  -which  I  did.  A  few  moments  before  I 
received  the  order,  Strahl's  brigade,  having  relieved 
Smith's,  was  in  the  act  of  charging  the  enemy.  Hav- 
ing notified  Colonel  J.  H.  Anderson,  on  my  left,  I  com- 


COLONEL  D.,  M.  DONNELL. 

menced  moving  with  Strahl's  brigade,  but  had  not  ad- 
vanced more  than  twenty  paces  when -the  order  from 
General  Wright,  alluded  to  above,  came,  and  I  retired. 
During  this  time  our  loss  was  sixty-seven  wounded. 


39°  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

On  the  next  morning,  while  lying  in  line  of  battle, 
one  man  was  mortally  wounded.* 

During  this  day  we  changed  position  several  times, 
and  just  before  night  joined  in  the  charge  which  drove 
the  enemy  from  his  fortifications,  thus  ending  the  en- 
gagement. 

On  this  occasion  the  officers  and  men  under  my  com- 
mand, with  few  exceptions,  conducted  themselves  with 
their  usual  gallantry.  I  am  particularly  indebted  to 
Lieutenant-colonel  D.  T.  Brown,  Captain  H.  H.  Dil- 
lard,  acting  major,  and  Adjutant  A.  F.  Claywell,  for 
the  invaluable  assistance  they  gave  me  in  preserving 
order  and  inspiring  confidence  in  the  minds  of  the 
men.  Captain  Dillard  does  not  belong  to  my  regi- 
ment, but  is  attached  to  the  conscript  bureau.  Know- 
ing him  to  be  a  most  excellent  officer,  and  being  with- 
out a  major,  I  invited  him  on  the  evacuation  of  Chat- 
tanooga to  act  in  that  capacity.  This  he  has  done  on 
the  march  and  in  action  with  marked  ability.  I  cannot 
speak  too  highly  of  his  cool  gallantry  and  sound  judg- 
ment. 

I  am,  captain,  yours  respectfully, 

D.    M.    DONNELL, 

Colonel  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 

Captain    LEON     TROUSDALE,    Assistant    Adjutant -general, 
Wright's  Brigade. 

*  Private  William  Hodges,  Company  F. 


CAPTAIN  PAINE.  391 


Report  of  Captain  A.  J.  Paine,    Ordnance  Officer  of 
Wright's  Brigade. 

Number  of  guns  carried  into  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and 
number  of  rounds  of  ammunition  expended  on  the  field,  in 
Wright's  Brigade,  Cheatham's  Division,  Folk's  Corps,  Army 
of  Tennessee: 


No. 
REGIMENTS.                               en  i 

Eighth  Tennessee  

guns  tak- 
nto  fight. 

260 

242 

254 
264 

232 

No.  rounds     Total    No. 
expended        rounds 
per  man.     expended. 

9^            2,400 

iH            r>833 
12                3,048 
10               2,640 

ia              2,320 

Sixteenth  Tennessee  

Twenty-eighth  Tennessee  

Thirty  -eighth  Tennessee  

Fifty  -first  and  Fifty-second  Ten- 
•    nessee  

Total i)252  12,241 

The  detail  with  the  ordnance  train  during  the  fight 
were  employed  chiefly  in  watching  the  movements  of 
their  respective  regiments,  so  as  to  know  at  all  times 
their  exact  locality,  that  they  might  be  able  to  supply 
them  with  ammunition  at  any  moment.  Their  leisure 
hours  were  occupied  in  gathering  and  transporting  to 
the  rear  ordnance  stores  from  the  battle-field.  The 
brigade  carried  from  the  field  upward  of  1,100  guns, 
beside  a  good  many  accouterments  and  bayonets. 
These  guns  were  hauled  to  the  rear  for  transportation 
to  the  railroad. 

Very  respectfully,  A.  J.  PAIXE, 

Ordnance  Officer,  Wrights  Brigade. 

October  18,  1863. 


392  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


Official  Report  of  Colonel  John  H.  Anderson,  Com- 
manding the  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment  Tennessee 
Volunteers,  in  Battle  of  Chickamauga. 

CAMPS  NEAR  CHATTANOOGA,  October  3,  1863. 

Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  re- 
port of  the  part  taken  by  the  Eighth  Regiment  Ten- 
nessee Volunteers  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sep- 
tember 19  and  20: 

On  the  night  of  the  iSth  my  regiment  bivouacked 
about  three  and  three  fourth  miles  from  the  battle- 
ground, and  at  daylight  on  the  ipth  I  was  ordered  to 
move  forward  and  cross  the  Chickamauga  River  at  a 
ford  in  the  rear  of  General  Walker's  division,  which 
was  then  engaged  with  the  enemy  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  ford.  After  crossing,  we  were 
formed  in  line  of  battle  in  an  old  field  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  in  which  position  we  remained  an  hour  and 
a  half,  when  we  were  again  moved  to  the  front  by  the 
right  flank,  to  a  position  on  an  eminence  about  half  a 
mile  to  the  front,  when  we  were  again  formed  into 
line,  in  which  position  we  remained  but  a  short  time, 
being  annoyed  to  some  extent  by  one  of  the  enemy's 
batteries,  in  position  near  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill,  about 
one  mile  to  our  left  and  front.  We  were  then  ordered 
forward  to  engage  the  enemy  on  the  left  of  Major- 
general  Walker's  division — who  were  hotly  engaged  by 
the  enemy  in  heavy  force — double-quick  a  distance  of 
about  one  mile,  over  a  very  broken  and  bushy  ground, 
to  the  immediate  front  of  the  alignment.  The  correc- 
tion being  made,  my  command  moved  upon  the  enemy, 
who  was  posted  upon  an  eminence  protected  by  heavy 
timber  and  undergrowth,  with  two  batteries,  of  artil- 


COLONEL  ANDERSON. 


393 


lery  stationed  in  commanding  positions  to  enable  him 
to  give  us  a  warm  reception.  I  had  not  advanced  far 
when  the  enemy  opened  upon  me  a  heavy  fire  with 
artillery  and  small  arms.  My  men  maintained  perfect 
order  and  moved  steadily  to  the  front,  to  a  position 


MAJOR    H.     II  .     D  I  I.  LAUD, 

Sixteenth  Tennissee  Regiment. 

not  exceeding,  two  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy, 
when  I  received  an  order  to  halt,  and  I  gave  the 
order  to  open  tire,  which  order  was  promptly  executed, 
with,  as  I  suppose,  considerable  effect  upon  the  enemy, 


394-  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

as  he  commenced  giving  way  in  my  front.  The  fire  of 
the  enemy  at  this  time  was  very  severe,  causing  the 
regiment  on  my  right — the  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  Colo- 
nel D.  M.  Donnell — to  retire  some  distance  to  the  rear, 
to  a  position  not  so  much  exposed;  and  a  few  moments 
after  the  Sixteenth  retired,  the  regiment  on  my  left — 
the  Fifty-first  Tennessee,  Lieutenant-colonel  J.  G.  Hall 
— retired  to  the  rear,  leaving  both  of  my  flanks  exposed. 
I  immediately  dispatched  some  three  different  officers 
te  see  Brigadier-general  Wright  for  orders,  but  they 
did  not  succeed  in  seeing  him.  Having  no  orders,  and 
believing  it  my  duty  to  hold  my  position,  if  possible, 
until  ordered  to  the  contrary,  I  maintained  and  held  my 
position,  tftough  subjected  to  a  murderous  fire  from 
small  arms  and  artillery,  my  men  standing  firmly  to 
their  posts  and  keeping  up  a  continuous  fire  upon  the 
enemy. 

Though  with  considerable  loss  in  my  regiment,  I 
then  dispatched  an  officer  to  my  left  to  ascertain  if 
there  were  any  of  our  forces  on  my  left.  He  returned 
and  reported  that  there  was  no  support  on  my  left  at 
all,  but  that  the  enemy  was  there  in  heavy  force.  There 
was  a  force  of  ours  some  distance  on  my  right,  hotly 
engaged  with  the  enemy;  and  seeing  no  immediate 
danger  from  my  left,  I  thought  it  best  to  hold  my  posi- 
tion as  long  as  possible,  in  order  to  keep  the  enemy 
from  turing  the  left  flank  of  our  forces,  then  engaging 
them  on  my  right,  which  I  succeeded  in  doing.  I  held 
my  position  for  about  two  hours,  when  it  was  reported 
that  the  enemy  in  heavy  force  was  moving  on  my  left 
flank,  and  had  opened  fire  upon  me  from  the  left.  I 
then  gave  the  order  to  retire  by  the  right  of  companies 
to  the  rear,  which  order  was  executed  slowly  and  in 
perfect  order,  to  a  position  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 


COLONEL   ANDERSON.  395 

to  the  rear,  upon  an  eminence,  that  I  might  better  ob- 
serve the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  keep  him  from 
turning  my  left  flank,  in  which  position  I  was  joined 
by  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Donnell,  who 
moved  forward  and  formed  upon  my  left.  In  this 
position  I  remained  a  short  time,  when  I  observed  that 
the  forces  on  my  right  were  being  hotly  pressed  by 
the  enemy;  and  still  having  no  order,  I  moved  by  the 
right  flank  to  their  assistance,  but  just  before  I  reached 
them  I  received  orders  from  Brigadier-general  Wright, 
through  one  of  his  staff  officers,  to  move  to  the  rear 
about  a  mile,  and  join  the  balance  of  the  brigade  and 
get  a  supply  of  ammunition,  which  order  I  promptly 
obeyed. 

After  being  supplied  with  ammunition,  I  moved  by 
the  flank  to  the  front,  with  the  balance  of  the  brigade, 
to  a  position  in  front  of  an  old  field,  the  opposite  of 
which  the  enemy  was  in  position.  It  then  being  near 
sundown,  we  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  ordered 
to  bivouac  for  the  night.  In  this  position  we  remained 
during  the  night  and  until  about  12  M.  of  the  2oth, 
when  we  moved  to  the  extreme  right  of  our  lines,  and 
formed  a  line  in  support  of  Major-general  Breckin- 
ridge's  command,  who  was  then  engaging  the  enemy's 
extreme  left,  where  we  remained  until  about  5  P.M., 
when  we  were  ordered  forward  to  charge  the  enemy 
in  his  fortifications  on  an  eminence  near  the  Chatta- 
nooga road,  which  order  was  obeyed  with  a  deafening 
yell;  and  we  moved  forward  at  a  double-quick  step, 
but  before  we  reached  them  in  their  position,  they 
abandoned  it  and  fled  in  great  panic  and  disorder. 
The  firing  having  ceased,  the  enemy  having  fled,  and 
it  being  then  about  7  P.M.,  we  were  ordered  to  bivouac 
upon  the  grounds  we  then  occupied,  where  we  re- 


396  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

mained  until  the  following  morning  at  9  o'clock,  when 
we  were  ordered  to  move  on  the  Chattanooga  road 
about  one  and  a  half  miles,  where  we  remained  until 
4  P.M.,  when  we  moved  forward  to  our  present  posi- 
tion. 

Although  my  command  had  been  subjected  to  a  great 
many  hardships  and  privations  —  heavy  marching 
through  heat  and  heavy  clouds  of  dust,  and  the  morti- 
fication of  again  being  compelled  to  leave  their  native 
State,  their  homes,  and  those  near  and  dear  to  them, 
to  a  treacherous,  insolent,  and  unprincipled  foe — yet 
they  behaved  and  fought  like  true  patriots  and  free- 
men, who  knew  their  rights  and  privileges,  and  were 
willing  to  maintain  them  at  all  hazards.  All  honor  to 
our  brave  dead  and  wounded,  who  sleep  and  have  be- 
dewed the  battle-ground  of  Chickamauga  with  their 
blood  for  the  cause  of  freedom  and  of  the  South!  May 
the  dead  live  in  the  memory  of  every  true  patriot,  and 
the  wounded  soon  be  healed  to  again  join  their  broth- 
ers in  arms,  and  to  continue  to  battle  until  the  last 
armed  foe  has  been  driven  from  our  homes! 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  saying  a  few 
words  in  honor  of  the  brave  officers  and  men  of  my 
regiment.  They  behaved,  with  but  the  fewest  excep- 
tions, in  the  most  gallant  manner,  maintaining  their 
position  for  about  two  hours  under  a  terrific  fire  of  ar- 
tillery and  small  arms,  in  the  very  face  of  a  large  and 
overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy.  Of  the  field  and 
staff,  I  would  mention  Lieutenant-colonel  Chris.  C. 
McKinney,  Major  W.  G.  Burforcl,  and  Adjutant  A.  J. 
Murphy,  who  conducted  themselves  in  the  most  gal- 
lant and  soldierly  manner,  directing  and  encouraging 
the  men  at  all  times  during  the  action.  I  have  to  re- 
gret the  loss  of  Adjutant  Murphy,  who  was  severely 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  HALL.         397 

wounded  in  the  arm  and  shoulder;  Captain  William 
D.  Bond,  severely  in  trie  scrotum;  Lieutenant  N. 
Flynt,  I  fear  mortally,  in  the  hips;  and  several  valu- 
able officers  and  men  whom  it  would  afford  me  great 
pleasure  to  mention  if  the  length  of  this  report  would 
permit.  Accompanying  you  will  please  find  a  report 
of  the  casualties  of  my  regiment,  all  of  which  are  most 
respectfully  submitted. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully  your  most  obedient  serv- 
ant, J°HX  H.  ANDERSON, 

Colonel  Commanding  Eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers. 
Captain  LEON  TROUSDALE,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 


Report  of  Lieutenant-colonel  John  G.  Hall,  Fifty-first 
Tennessee  Infantry,  Commanding  the  Fifty-first  and 
Fifty-second  Tennessee  Regiments,  in  the  Battle 
of  Chick  am  auga. 

IN  CAMP  NEAR  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  October  4,  1863. 
Sir: — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  report  as 
to  the  action  taken  by  the  Fifty-first  and  Fifty-second 
Tennessee  Regiments,  under  my  command,  in  the  late 
engagement  with  the  enemy,  on  September  19  and  20 
last: 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  I9th,  in  forming  the  line  of 
battle,  I  was  ordered  to  take  my  position  and  form  on 
the  left  of  the  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel  J. 
H.  Anderson  commanding.  The  Twenty-eighth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton  commanding, 
formed  on  my  left.  I  found,  on  examination,  that  the 
Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel  D.  M.  Don- 
nell  commanding,  was  formed  on  the  extreme  right  of 
the  brigade,  and  that  the  Thirty-eighth  Tennessee  Reg- 


398  OFFICIAL   REPORTS. 

iment,  Colonel  J.  C.  Carter  commanding,  was  formed 
on  the  extreme  left  of  the  brigade,  thus  placing  me  in 
the  center.  The  line  \Jeing  dressed  and  the  order  to 
load  being  complied  with,  the  brigade  was  ordered  for- 
ward to  engage  the  enemy. 

In  approaching  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  I  was  in 
doubt  whether  the  battalion  of  direction  was  on  my 
right  or  left.  This  embarrassed  me  somewhat  in  my 
movements,  and  when  the  brigade  went  into  the  ac- 
tion, I  discovered  that  in  executing  an  oblique  move- 
ment to  the  left,  I  had  gone  too  far  in  that  direction; 
that  my  left  wa"s  much  nearer  to  Colonel  Stanton's 
right  than  my  right  wras  to  Colonel  Anderson's  left; 
Colonel  Anderson  also  had  gained  some  ground  on 
me  by  a  movement  by  the  right  flank,  which  I  did  not 
discover  at  the  time  of  its  being  executed,  under  the 
circumstances  above  stated. 

Learning  that  the  general  commanding  the  brigade 
was  on  my  left,  I  determined  to  direct  my  movements 
with  those  of  Colonels  Carter  and  Stanton.  The  posi- 
tion which  I  held  during  the  engagement  was  an  open 
glade,  almost  entirely  level,  with  the  exception  of  a 
small  mound  on  my  extreme  left,  with  but  few  trees, 
and  but  little  undergrowth.  I  saw  from  the  range  of 
the  enemy's  balls,  and  from  the  surroundings  of  the 
position  which  I  occupied,  that  1  must^  necessarily  suf- 
fer severely  in  any  thing  like  a  prolonged  engagement. 
I  determined,  however,  to  occupy  the  position  and  to 
keep  the  regiments  as  well  prepared  as  could  be  done 
under  the  circumstances  for  an  advance.  I  remained 
in  this  position  about  one  hour.  The  fire  of  the  enemy 
was  well  directed.  We  carried  into  the  action  232 
muskets.  Thirteen  men  were  killed  dead  on  the  field, 
and  132  were  wounded — eight  mortally. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  HALL.        399 

The  officers  and  men  behaved  well,  loading  and  fir- 
ing with  great  coolness  about  twenty  rounds  to  the 
man. 

When  the  order  to  fall  back  was  being  complied 
with,  color-bearer  W.  M.  Bland,  who  distinguished 
himself  at  Murfreesboro,  was  shot  through  the  head 
and  killed.  The  colors  were  immediately  seized  by 
Sergeant  Troborough,  but  almost  simultaneously  with 
his  receiving  them,  he  received  a  wound  from  one  of 
the  enemy's  shots,  which  caused  him  to  relinquish  the 
colors  to  private  Rivers,  who  was  also  wounded  and 
assisted  from  the  field  and  the  colors  left. 

The  regiment  having  been  supplied  with  ammuni- 
tion, remained  idle  until  about  4  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
when  we  were  again  ordered  in  line;  but  our  brigade 
taking  no  further  part  in  the  engagement,  we  were 
ordered  some  distance  to  the  rear,  where  we  bivouacked 
for  the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2Oth  we  were  again  ordered 
in  line,  and  gradually  moved  round  to  the  right,  until 
about  4  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  the  brigade  was 
formed  on  the  right  of  Brigadier-general  Maney's  line. 
We  were  still  later  ordered  forward,  but  did  not  en- 
gage the  enemy.  Met  with  no  casualties.  Encamped 
for  the  night  on  the  battle-field,  the  enemy  having  been 
routed  and  driven  off. 

Respectfully  submitted,  JOHN  G.  HALL, 

Lieutenant-colonel    Commanding   Fifty-first   and   Fifty-second 
Tennessee  Regiments. 

Captain  LEON  TROUSDALE,  .Assistant  Adjutant-general. 


400  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


Official  Report  of  Colonel  John  C.  Carter,  command- 
ing Thirty-eighth  Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers,  in 
the  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  Sept.  19  and  W,  1863. 

IN  CAMP  NEAR  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Oct.  6,  1863. 
Captain: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following 
report  in  regard  to  the  part  taken  by  my  regiment,  of 
Brigadier-general  Wright's  brigade,  in  the  late  battle 
of  Chickamauga,  fought  on  September  19  and  20  last. 
The  brigade  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  about  12  M.  of 
Saturday  the  I9th  ultimo.  My  regiment  was  on  the 
left  of  the  brigade,  Captain  W.  W.  Carnes's  battery  of 
light  artillery  was  on  the  left  of  my  regiment.  The 
brigade  was  ordered  to  advance  as  soon  as  the  line  of 
battle  was  formed.  For  a  short  time  I  thought  -that 
Major-general  Walker's  division  was  in  our  front,  and 
that  Brigadier-general  Maney's  brigade  was  on  my  left. 
I,  however,  soon  discovered  that  no  Confederate  troops 
were  on  the  left,  and  that  the  enemy  alone  in  heavy 
force  was  in  our  front.  When  I  was  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  yards  from  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  I 
was  ordered  by  Captain  E.  F.  Le£,  assistant  inspector- 
general  to  Brigadier  -  general  Wright,  comm'anding 
brigade,  to  halt  my  regiment,  and  was  informed  at  the 
same  time  that, the  command,  "Commence  firing,"  had 
been  given.  I  immediately  complied  with  these  orders. 
My  regiment  fought  for  about  three  hours  under  a  very 
heavy  fire,  advancing  a  little  during  the  time.  I  can- 
not say  definitely  what  loss  I  inflicted  upon  the  enemy. 
For  my  own  loss  I  respectfully  refer  to  a  report  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  already  forwarded. 

About  3:30  P.M.  of  the  same  day  I  received  an  order 
from  Mr.  E.  C.  Smith,  volunteer  aid-de-camp  to  Briga- 


COLONEL  CARTER.  401 

dier-general  Wright,  commanding  brigade,  to  fall  back. 
As  this  order  reached  me  last,  my  regiment  being  on 
the  left  and  the  order  coming  from  the  right,  I  believe 
that  the  other  regiments  retired  a  little  before  mine  did. 
I  do  not  assert  this  as  a  fact,  as  I  could  not  observe  the 
regiments  on  the  right  of  the  brigade;  As  soon  as  I 
discovered  that  there  were  no  Confederate  troops  on 
my  left  I  immediately  requested  First  Lieutenant  L.  G. 
Marshall,  of  Carnes's  battery  of  light  artillery,  to  turn 
his  guns  to  the  left,  as  I  felt  sure  the  enemy  would  flank 
us;  that  we — the  infantry — would  attend  to  the  enemy 
in  front. 

Almost  immediately  afterward  we  were  apprised  of 
the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  flanked  us,  by  his  fire  and 
by  seeing  his  flanking  line. 

On  Sunday,  the  2oth  ultimo,  my  regiment,  together 
with  the  brigade,  was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy. 
We  complied  with  the  order,  but  the  enemy  retreated 
before  we  reached  him.  I  must  be  permitted  to 
speak  of  the  courage  and  efficiency  of  the  officers 
and  men  under  my  command.  Lieutenant  -  colonel 
A.  D.  Gwynne,  Major  H.  M.  Cotter,  Adjutant  R. 
L.  Caruthers,  Captain  F.  Pugh,  H.  M.  Neely,  M. 
N.  Nevill,  and  J.  C.  Millers,  ^nd  Lieutenant  J.  W. 
Chilcutt,  R.  B.  Koen,  and  R.  Field  deserve  especial 
mention.  I  regret  that  necessity  compelled  us  to  move 
so  rapidly  before  the  line  of  battle  was  formed.  Our 
sorrow  for  the  fallen  is  softened  by  the  fact  that  our 
banners  waved  over  the  ground  upon  wrhich  they  lay, 
and  that  shouts  of  triumph  rang  upon  their  ears  and 
lit  in  death  their  smiles  of  hope.  We  return  thanks  to 
God  for  the  victory  won.  I  am,  very  respectfully, 

JOHN    C.    CARTER,  Colonel  Commanding. 
Captain  LEON  TROUSDALE,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
26 


402  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


Official  Report  of  Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton,  Twenty-eighth 
Regiment  Tennessee  Volunteers. 

HEAD-QUARTERS    TWENTY-EIGHTH    TENNESSEE   [ 

REGIMENT,  October  7,  1863.     \ 

Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report 
of  the  part  taken  by  the  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee 
Regiment  in  the  late  battle  of  Chickamauga.  The 
Sixteenth,  Eighth,  and  Fifty-first  Tennessee  Regiments 
being  formed  on  my  right,  and  the  Thirty-eighth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment  on  my  left,  mine  was  immediately  on 
the  left  of  the  center  regiment  of  the  brigade. 

Having  crossed  Chickamauga  Creek  on  Saturday 
morning,  September  19,  we  were  maneuvered  furious- 
ly for  two  or  three  hours,  and  finally  placed  in  order  of 
battle.  Early  after  noon  the  entire  brigade  wras  or- 
dered forward,  with  instruction  from  Brigadier-general 
Wright  that  each  regiment  would  cover  its  front  with 
skirmishers,  to  be'  instructed  by  their  respective  colo- 
nels, to  advance  with  great  caution,  lest  they  should  fire 
on  a  line  of  friends  who,  he  had  been  informed,  were 
on  our  front,  and  that  ours  was  a  supporting  line. 

Having  thrown  forward  skirmishers,  as  above  or- 
dered, we  moved  forward  some  four  or  five  hundred 
yards  rapidly,  through  a  thick  woods,  some  portion  of 
which  was  densely  lined  with  undergrowth,  when, 
somewrhat  to  our  astonishment,  instead  of  friends,  who 
were  supposed  to  be  on  our  front,  we  found  ourselves 
suddenly  in  contact  with  the  enemy,  not  more  than  one 
hundred  yards  distant,  who  had  already  commenced 
fire  upon  us  as  we  came  upon  them  concealed  behind 
breastworks.  Our  line,  in  moving  up  to  this  point,  had 
been  brought  most  of  the  way  in  double-quick  time, 


COLONEL  STANTON.  403 

therefore  the  skirmishers  had  not  kept  far  in  advance 
of  the  line.  The  skirmishers  were  not,  therefore,  blam- 
able  for  this  sudden  contact  with  the  enemy,  for  the 
filing  came  upon  the  line  about  the  same  time  that  it 
did  upon  the  skirmishers;  hence  the  enemy  got  the  first 
fire  upon  us.  But  nothing  daunted,  my  brave  boys 
fired  promptly  at  the  command,  and  moved  forward  a 
few  paces,  when  they  wer§*ordered  to  fire  and  load 
lying  down.  This  order  was  executed  for  more  than 
an  hour  in  splendid  style,  when  from  an  overpowering 
fire,  both  of  infantry  and  artillery,  from  the  enemy, 
who  were  securely  intrenched  behind  said  breastworks 
immediately  on  our  front,  my  line  was  for  a  moment 
driven  back  about  fifty  yards.  It  was  immediately  ral- 
lied again  under  the  unceasing  fire  of  the  enemy,  and 
much  to  the  credit  of  my  officers  and  men  they  moved 
firmly  forward  again,  and  in  a  moment  retook  position 
even  in  advance  of  the  ground  they  first  held.  Here 
they  fought  with  desperation  and  unyielding  determi- 
nation, returning  volley  for  volley  until  from  an  over- 
whelming cross-fire  from  the  left,  and  receiving  at  this 
time  information  that  the  enemy  were  flanking  our 
left,  and  being  ordered  to  move  by  the  left  flank  to 
meet  said  flank  movement,  my  command  was  accord- 
ingly brought  to  their  feet  and  put  in  motion  by  the 
left  flank.  By  this  last  movement  the  men  were  more 
fully  exposed  to  the  deadly  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  we 
were  ordered  to  retire  ;  and  we  did  then  retire  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  Here  they  were  reformed 
and  were  again  ready  to  face  the  enemy  in  further 
combat,  when,  on  the  arrival  of  supporting  columns, 
we  were  ordered  by  the  right  of  battalion  to  the  rear. 
Having  replenished  our  cartridge-boxes  and  canteens 
with  ammunition  and  water,  we  were  formed  on  the 


404  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

right  of  the  position.  Nothing  worthy  of  notice  oc- 
curred after  this  until  late  Sunday  evening,  when  we 
participated  in  the  last  charge,  which  resulted  in  driv- 
ing the  enemy  from  his  main  stronghold.  In  this  we 
had  three  more  men  wounded. 

The  casualties  of  this  regiment  in  the  entire  engage- 
ment sums  up  as  follows:  killed  outright,  nine — :x 
more  died  soon  after  being  moved  to  the  rear;  wound- 
ed, .seventy:  making  |he  aggregate  loss  eighty-five. 
None  are  reported  missing.  We  went  into  the  engage- 
ment with  three  hundred  and  eight  men,  including 
field  and  staff",  infirmary  corps,  provost  guard,  etc. 

Much  is  due  my  associate  field  officers,  Lieutenant- 
colonel  D.  C.  Crook,  Major  W.  G.  Smith,  and  Adju- 
tant W.  B.  Whitefield  for  the  energy  and  courage  dis- 
played on  their  part  in  aiding  me  to  rally  and  stimulate 
the  men  to  action,  while  the  sound  of  musketry,  can- 
non, and  shell  would  have  rendered  it  impossible  for 
one  officer  to  have  been  heard,  or  the  command  ex- 
tended along  the  whole  line  but  for  this  gallant  co-op- 
eration on  their  part. 

The  subordinate  officers  and  men  throughout  the 
entire  engagement  behaved  nobly,  and  showed  them- 
selves worthy  veterans  of  the  gallant  State  from  which 
they  came,  and  which  they  were  struggling  to  regain. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

S.  S.  STANTON, 

Colonel  Twenty -eighth  Tennessee  Regiment. 
Captain  LEON  TROUSDALE,  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

Inclosure. 

Ox  THE  FRONT  XEAR  CHATTAXOOGA,  October  6,  1863. 

Brigadier  -general  Wright: — Having  learned  that 
Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton  has  been  called  on  for  a  report 


COLONEL  STAXTOX.  405 

of  the  part  taken  by  the  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee 
Regiment  in  the  action  of  September  19,  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Chickamauga,  and  believing  that  he, 
through  modesty,  will  omit  an  act  of  the  most  daring 
gallantry  on  his  part,  which  contributes  not  only  to  his 
own  fame,  but  adds  luster  to  the  conduct  of  the  regi- 
ment, we  beg  leave  to  mention  the  same.  After  the 
terrible  onslaught  made  upon  the  enemy  by  your  bri- 
gade, the  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  occupying  the  left 
center  of  the  same,  slightly  wavered  as  if  being  pressed 
back  by  the  weight  of  the  immense  volume  of  lead 
that  was  poured  against  it.  Our  colonel,  seeing  this, 
rushed  to  the  front  of  the  line  on  horseback,  seized  the 
standard  of  the  colors,  and  bearing  them  to  the  front, 
shouted  for  his  men  to  follow,  which  the}'  did  in  the 
most  gallant  manner,  regaining  the  ground  they  had 
lost.  While  thus  bearing  the  colflrs  they  were  riddled 
with  balls,  being  pierced  not  less  than  thirty  times. 
We  respectfully  ask  that  this  incident  be  incorporated 
in  and  made  a  part  of  said  report. 

Yours  respectfully, 

D.  C.  CAOOK, 

Lieutenant-colonel. 
W.  G.  SMITH, 

Major. 
W.  B.  WHITEFIELD. 

Adjutant. 
W.  F.  M.  BtfATTY,  R.  ROBERSOX, 

Captain  Company  H. 
J.  G.  MAXWELL, 
First  Lieutenant  Com  fan  Y  K. 

W.  S.  WOODS, 

Captain  Company  G. 
O.  H.  ANDERSON, 
First  Lieutenant  Commanding  Company  D. 


406  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

J.  R.  DONALDSON, 

Captain  Company  A. 

G.  W.  COOK, 

Lieutenant  Commanding  Company  F. 

JOHN  B.  HOLMAN, 

Captain  Company  B. 
W.  H.  MITCHELL, 

First  Lieutenant  Commanding  Company  R. 

S.  S.  DEARMAN, 

Lieutenant  Commanding  Company  I. 

Z.  H.  BRYANT, 

Lieutenant  Company  C. 


Official  Report  of  Brigadier  -  general  Marcus  J. 
Wright,  of  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  19 
and  20,  1863. 

HEAD-qUARTERS  WRIGHT'S  BRIGADE,  CHEATHAM's 
DIVISION,  FOLK'S  CORPS,  ARMY  OF  TENNESSEE, 
IN  THE  FIELD,  October  9,  1863. 

Major: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  re- 
port of  the  operations  of  my  brigade  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  on  the  I9th  and  2oth  ultimo: 

On  Saturday,  ipth  ult.,  at  3:30  A.M.,  I  was  ordered 
by  Major-general  Cheatham  to  advance  and  cross  the 
Chickamauga  at  a  ford  known  as  Byron's  Ford,  fol- 
lowing immediately  after  Brigadier-general  Preston 
Smith's  brigade,  and  followed  by  Brigadier-general 
George  Maney's  brigade.  Immediately  after  we 
crossed  the  ford,  heavy  firing  commenced  in  our  front, 
which  was  ascertained  to  be  an  engagement  between 
the  reserve  division  of  Major-general  Walker  and  the 
enemy,  who  was  in  heavy  forces,  and  was  pressing 
Walker  hotly  with  his  largely-superior  numbers.  My 
brigade,  after  crossing,  was  'formed  in  line  of  battle  in 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  407 

a  field  in  the  rear  of  Brigadier-general  Smith.  I  was 
ordered  to  follow  immediately  upon  the  rear  of  Smith 
w'hen  he  moved.  In  an  hour  Smith  moved  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  battle-field,  and  we  followed  closely  in 
his  rear.  After  moving  into  a  wood,  in  a  direction  in- 
clining down  the  Chickamauga,  another  halt  was  made 
of  half  an  hour,  when  I  received  an  order  from  Gen- 
eral Cheatham  to  forward  in  a  direction  nearly  at  right 
angles  to  the  road  along  which  we  were  posted,  with 
that  brave  and  competent  officer,  General  Preston 
Smith,  still  on  my  right.  Maney  being  in  my  rear  in 
the  line  of  march,  I  supposed  that  he  would  be  ordered 
up  to  the  left,  and  indeed,  in  the  act  of  executing  the 
forward  movement  in  the  line  of  battle,  I  was  informed 
by  General  Smith'  that  we  were  a  supporting  force  to 
Major-general  Walker,  who  was  supposed  to  be  in  our 
front.  My  brigade  is  composed  of  the  following  regi- 
ments, which  moved  in  line  from  right  to  left  in  the 
order  named:  Sixteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  D.  M. 
Donnell  commanding;  Eighth  Tennessee,  Colonel 
John  H.  Anderson  commanding;  Fifty-first  and  Fifty- 
second  Tennessee  Regiments,  Lieutenant-colonel  John 
G.  Hall  commanding;  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee,  Col- 
onel S.  S.  Stanton  commanding;  Thirty-eighth  Ten- 
nessee, and  Murray's  Battalion,  Colonel  John  C.  Car- 
ter commanding;  with  the  battery  of  light  artillery, 
commanded  by  Captain  William  W.  Carnes.  The 
men  moved  up  in  splendid  style,  obeying  all  orders 
with  the  alacrity  and  precision  which  is  their  habit  on 
parade.  With  the  information  I  had  received,  believ- 
ing Major-general  Walker  in  our  front,  I  had  directed 
each  regiment  to  throw  out  skirmishers  and  to 
guard  against  the  too  frequent  and  often  criminal  folly 
of  pouring  a  fire  into  the-  rear  of  our  own  comrades  in 


408  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

* 

arms  when  engaged  against  a  foe  in  front.  This  order 
I  immediately  countermanded  when  it  became  qiute 
evident  that  a  most  galling  fire  had  been  opened  by  the 
enemy's  batteries  and  infantry  upon  my  right  flank  and 
a  portion  of  the  center.  This  fire  continued  for  some 
minutes  before  the  left  flank  was  engaged,  and  was  the 
result  of  my  line  of  battle  being  advanced  obliquely 
toward  the  right,  instead  of  being  parallel  to  the  ene- 
my's line.  It  was  certainly  due  also  somewhat  to  the 
fact  that  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  and  the  Eighth  Ten- 
nessee Regiments  extending  their  line  into  a  corn  field 
in  open  view  of  the  enemy,  whose  position  was  con- 
cealed by  timber  and  undergrowth,  were  compelled  to 
advance  into  the  wood  in  front,  thus  finding  a  better 
and  more  secure  position,  and  some  cover  for  their  men 
from  the  murderous  fire  which  they  were  gallantly 
sustaining.  The  center  and  left,  however,  soon  be- 
came earnestly  engaged.  Having  no  eligible  position 
for  artillery  near  the  center,  I  was  compelled  to  post 
Carnes's  battery  (Steuben  artillery)  on  the  left  of  the 
Thirty-eighth  Tennessee,  being  the  extreme  left  of  my 
position — supposing,  too,  at  that  time,  that  I  would  be 
supported  on  the  left  by  the  brigades  both  of  Brigadier- 
general  Maney  and  Brigadier-general  Strahl.  My  po- 
sition was  near  the  foot  of  a  declivity,  gently  rising 
toward  the  left,  and  presenting  on  that  flank  the  high- 
est ground  on  our  lines,  and  therefore  the  best  position 
for  artillery,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  on  an  emi- 
nence rising  from  the  drain  or  low  ground  just  in  our 
front,  many  feet  above  ours,  and  protected  by  works 
probably  thrown  up  the  previous  night.  Immediately 
after  the  enemy's  fire  was  opened,  I  dispatched  the 
order  to  commence  firing  to  each  of  the  commanding 
officers  of  regiments,  which  'was  executed  promptly, 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  409 

and  with  coolness  and  precision.  I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  effect  of  our  firing  upon  the  enemy  was 
terrific  from  the  report  of' a  wounded  officer  who  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  subsequently  escaped, 
and  from  a  careful  survey  of  the  battle-ground  by  some 
of  the  men  after  the  action.  The  enemy  opened  upon 
us  a  cross  fire  of  two  batteries  and  a  concentrated 
shower  of  musket  shot  from  a  greatly  superior  force, 
their  line  extending  the  full  length  of  a  brigade  beyond 
my  unsupported  left.  Our  men  met  the  terrible  fire 
which  was  hurled  upon  them  with  constancy,  coolness, 
and  undaunted  courage,  bearing  the  shock  like  veter- 
ans, and  not  perceptibly  wavering  beneath  its  severity, 
and  returning  shot  for  shot  as  far  as  their  inferiority  of 
numbers  would  allow. 

After  sustaining  this  fire  for  three  and  a  half  hours — 
from  12  M.  to  3:30  P.M. — seeing  that  Brigadier-general 
Smith,  immediately  on  my  right,  had  withdrawn  from 
the  field,  and  learning  from  some  of  my  officers  that 
their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  I  determined 
to  order  the  brigade  to  retire.  Before,  however,  I 
could  give  orders  to  execute  this  movement,  a  courier 
informed  me  that  the  enemy  was  flanking  my  position, 
which,  upon  moving  in  that  direction,  I  distinctly  dis- 
covered, seeing  his  line  moving  through  the  ravine  and 
undergrowth  upon  the  left  flank.  I  then  dispatched 
orders  to  the  colonels  and  commander  of  the  battery  to 
withdraw  to  a  hill  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear. 
Discovering  at  this  opportune  moment  a  supporting 
brigade  approaching  in  line  of  battle,  and  not  being 
able  to  move  rapidly  enough  to  communicate  with 
General  Clayton  in  consequence  of  my  being  dis- 
mounted, I  requested  the  colonel  commanding  the 
leading  regiment  to  move  to  my  left  and  protect  the 


410  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

men  in  retiring,  which  he  did  promptly  and  efficiently. 
At  the  same  time  I  informed  him  that  the  enemy  was 
flanking  our  position.  Each  of  the  regiments  were 
withdrawn  slowly  and  in  good  order,  although  all  the 
horses  of  the  battery  except  three  were  killed,  and  one 
half  of  the  company  shot  down,  either  killed  or 
wounded,  thus  rendering  the  battery  useless  to  check 
the  advance  of  the  enemy's  flanking  force.  Captain 
Carnes,  First  Lieutenant  L.  G.  Marshall,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  James  M.  Cockrill,  of  the  artillery,  re- 
mained with  the  battery  until  they  received  orders  to 
retire,  narrowly  escaping  capture,  and  gallantly  stand- 
ing at  their  posts  until  the  last  moment.  Second  Lieu- 
tenant A.  Van  Vleck  gallantly  died  at  his  post.  After 
retiring  from  the  field,  I  at  once  dispatched  a  staff  offi- 
cer to  Major-general  Cheatham  advising  him  of  the 
position  of  the  brigade,  and  informing  him  of  the  fact 
that  our  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  which  was 
promptly  supplied. 

After  5  P.M.  the  brigade  was  again  ordered  to  take 
position  about  eight  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  the 
ground  on  which  we  had  fought  the  enemy.  Major- 
general  Cleburne's  division  and  Smith's  brigade,  of 
Major-general  Cheatham's  division,  at  about  6:  30  P.M., 
on  our  immediate  right,  made  a  most  gallant  and  suc- 
cessful movement  upon  the  enemy's  position,  but  my 
brigade  was  not  ordered  to  participate  in  the  glorious 
charge  which  cost  the  lives  of  many  brave  patriots, 
and  among  them  the  heroic  General  Preston  Smith. 

Having  bivouacked  at  this  position  on  Saturday 
night,  on  Sunday  morning  a  line  of  battle  was  again 
formed,  and  held  steadily  for  three  hours  under  a  most 
harassing  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  One  man 
of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee  was  severely  wounded  by 
a  round  shot. 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  411 

About  i  P.M.  I  was  ordered  to  move  the  brigade 
around  to»  the  right  of  our  position,  following  Maney 
in  moving  by  the  right  flank.  About  6  P.M.,  Maney 
being  on  the  left,  I  was  ordered  to  follow  his  move- 
ments in  line  of  battle.  Major-general  Walker's  di- 
vision and  Brigadier-general  Jackson's  brigade,  of 
Cheatham's  division,  were  already  engaged  fiercely  in 
assaulting  a  fortified  position  of  the  enemy,  at  which  a 
very  large  force  of  his  artillery  had  been  concentrated. 
A  furious  contest  was  raging  with  wild  and  terrible 
carnage.  Though  the  gallant  troops  of  Walker  and 
Jackson  held  their  position  with  unsurpassed  stubborn- 
ness and  heroism,  yet  the  enemy,  encouraged  by  the 
strength,  natural  and  artificial,  of  his  position,  and  his 
concentrated  forces,  was  making  a  most  stubborn  fight. 
At  this  critical  moment  the  two  brigades — General 
Mnney's  and  my  own — were  precipitated  with  a  deaf- 
ening hurrah  and  rapid  shock  to  support  our  gallant 
comrades  who  were  contending  against  unequal  odds. 
The  men  were  in  the  highest  spirits,  and  moved  for- 
ward with  an  animation  that  I  have  never  seen  sur- 
passed. At  this  time  the  scene  was  one  of  the  most 
animated  and  exciting  that  can  be  imagined.  The 
whole  issue  of  the  combat  seemed  suspended  upon  a 
moment's  work.  The  shouts  of  our  gallant  patriots 
presaged  success,  and  every  eye  was  lighted  with  vic- 
tory. It  came  at  that  propitious  moment.  The  enemy, 
already  daunted  by  the  fierce  ordeal  through  which 
they  had  passed  from  the  guns  of  Walker  and  Jackson, 
could  no  longer  bear  the  trials  when  the  cheers  of  our 
reinforced  battalions  were  wafted  to  them  on  the  even- 
ing breeze.  They  broke  in  hopeless  confusion  and 
rout,  precipitately  fled  before  our  pursuing  columns, 
leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  behind  them  and  sev- 


412  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

eral  pieces  of  their  artillery.  Although  my  brigade  did 
not  reach  the  position  in  time  to  fire  but  a»  v*ery  few 
guns  from  the  Thirty-eighth  Tennessee,  yet  it  is  a 
source  of  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  the  cheers  of  the 
men  and  their  impetuous  charge  assisted  in  striking  a 
terror  into  the  heart  of  the  foe  and  in  hastening  his  in- 
glorious flight.  In  this  engagement  and  that  of  Satur- 
day the  brigade  captured  seventy-one  prisoners,  in- 
cluding a  captain  and  two  lieutenants.  The  loss  in  the 
brigade  was  eighty-nine  killed  on  the  field,  eighty- 
three  missing,  most  of  whom  are  known  to  be,  and 
others  are  supposed  to  be,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  four  hundred  wounded.  Among  the.  killed  I  regret 
to  mention  Captain  J.  M.  Parks,  of  the  Sixteenth  Ten- 
nessee; Lieutenant  Hainey,  of  Murray's  battalion,  at- 
tached to  the  Thirty-eighth  Tennessee;  Lieutenant  W. 
T.  Wade,  and  color-bearer  Bland,  of  the  Fifty-first  and 
Fifty-second  Tennessee  Regiments;  Captain  S.  B. 
Whaley,  and  Lieutenant  Craig,  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
Tennessee;  and  Lieutenant  Van  Vleck,  of  Carnes's 
battery.  Among  the  wounded  were  Colonels  John  H. 
Anderson  and  D.  M.  Donnell;  Lieutenant  -  colonel 
John  G.  Hall,  and  Major  Thomas  G.  Randle;  Captains 
D.  C.  Puryear,  James  J.  Cullom,  and  W.  D.  Bonds; 
and  Lieutenant  Cunningham,  J.  W.  Leonard,  N.  Flynt, 

and Shaw,  of  the  Eighth  Tennessee;  Lieutenants 

Potter,  J.  F.  Owen,  James  Fisher,  and  James  Worthing- 
ton,  of  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee;  Captain  W.  H.  Mc- 
Donald, Lieutenant  H.  M.  Apple,  W.  L.  Danley,  and 
D.  C.  Taylor,  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Tennessee;  Ad- 
jutant R.  L.  Caruthers,  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Banks,  and 
W.  D.  Ridout,  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Tennessee;  and 
Captain  R.  M.  Burton,  Lieutenants  R.  P.  Billings,  W. 
B.  Chester,  W.  H.  White,  E.  R.  Hainey,  B.  M.  Tilman, 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  413 

and  W.  T.  Wade,  of  the  Fifty-first  and  Fifty -second 
Tennessee  Regiments.  All  the  field  officers  of  the 
brigade  and  the  officers  of  the  battery  acted  with  such 
distinguished  gallantry  that  I  feel  it  would  be  invidious 
to  make  a  distinction.  Company  officers  and  men, 
with  very  inconsiderable  exceptions  that  have  come  to 
my  knowledge,  bore  themselves  with  a  gallantry  and 
steadiness  becoming  patriots  contending  for  freedom 
and  all  that  honorable  men  hold  dear. 

I  am  indebted  for  valuable  assistance  during  the  en- 
gagement to  my  staff  officers,  Captain  Leon  Trous- 
dale,  assistant  adjutant-general;  Captain  Edward  F. 
Lee,  assistant  inspector  -  general;  my  aid-de-camps, 
Lieutenant  E.  T.  Harris,  and  Lieutenant  Sidney  Wom- 
ack,  and  Mr.  Charles  T.  Smith.  They  each  discharged 
their  duties  with  fidelity  and  zeal.  One  of  my  couriers, 
Mr.  William  S.  Hill,  won  the  commendations  of  all, 
and  my  warm  thanks  for  his  gallantry  and  alacrity  in 
the  discharge  of  his  perilous  duties.  Brigadier-general 
W.  C.  Whitthorne,  adjutant-general  of  Tennessee,  vol- 
unteered to  act  as  aid-de-camp  on  the  first  day's  march 
from  Chattanooga,  and  discharged  the  various  duties 
that  I  assigned  to  him  with  a  promptness,  courage,  and 
ability  which  merited  and  received  my  warmest  thanks. 
On  the  field  General  Whitthorne  conducted  himself 
with  conspicuous  gallantry. 

The  infirmary  corps  discharged  their  duties  with 
such  fearlessness  and  fidelity  as  to  attract  my  special 
observation. 

The  provost  guards  also,  under  their  worthy  and  gal- 
lant provost  marshal,  Lieutenant  W.  L.  Richardson, 
fully  fulfilled  the  standard  of  their  duties.  They  lost 
one  "killed  and  two  wounded  in  the  engagement  of  Sat- 
urday. I  unite  with  all  true  patriots  of  our  country  in 


414  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

returning  thanks  to  Almighty  God,  without  whose  as- 
sistance our  strength  is  weakness,  for  the  substantial 
victory  with  which  he  has  crowned  our  efforts. 

I  herewith  transmit  the  reports  of  the  regimental 
commanders  of  the  brigade,  to  which  your  special  at- 
tention is  respectfully  invoked.  I  regret  I  cannot  ac- 
cojripany  them  with  the  report  of  Captain  Carnes, 
commanding  battery,  whose  absence  on  business  con- 
nected with  his  battery  necessarily  delays  its  prepara- 
tion. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Major,  very  respectfully,  your 
obedient  servant,  MARCUS  J.  WRIGHT, 

Brigadier-general. 

Major  JAMES   D.   PORTER,   Assistant  Adjutant-general,  Cheat- 
ham's  Division. 


Report  of  Captain  Ben  Randals,    Commanding  Six- 
teenth Regiment  Tennessee   Volunteers. 

HEAD-qiTARTERS   SIXTEENTH  TENNESSEE  REGIMENT./ 

April  9,  1864.         \ 
Captain  LEON  TROUSDALE,  A.  A.  G.,  Wright's  Brigade: 

Captain: — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following 
report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Sixteenth  Tennessee 
Regiment  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Novem- 
ber 24  and  25,  1863: 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  regiment,  with  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  was  marched  down  the 
east  side  of  the  Chickamauga,  Colonel  D.  M.  Donnell 
commanding.  When  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  we 
were  fired  upon  by  infantry  and  artillery — surprised, 
as  none  were  anticipating  an  enemy.  The  same  eager- 
ness was  manifested  by  the  men  to  engage  the  enemy 


CAPTAIN  RANDALS.  415 

that  has  ever  characterized  the  men  of  this  regiment. 
There  were  but  few  shots  exchanged.  The  regiment 
was  ordered  to  fall  back  under  cover  of  a  hill.  There 
was  no  disorder  or  confusion  among  the  men.  All 
acted  well  the  part  of  good  soldiers.  They  were  cool, 
calm,  and  deliberate. 

We  were  then  withdrawn  to  the  bridge  across  the 
Chickamauga,  with  loss  of  one  killed  and  eight 
wounded.  Here  we  remained  on  our  arms  during  the 
remainder  of  the  engagement. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

BEN  RANDALS, 

Captain  Commanding  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 
P.  S. — Captain,  I  have  omitted  the  different  changes 
of  position  during  this  time,  thinking  it  unimportant. 
Truly,  B.   R. 


Report  of  Killed  and  Wounded  of  the  Sixteenth  Reg- 
iment Tennessee  Volunteers,  in  the  Battle  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  November  24,  1863. 

Private  G.  G.  Taylor,  Company  A,  wounded  slightly; 
private  Peter  Cantrell,  Company  A,  wounded  slightly; 
private  Dallas  Hicks,  Company  A,  wounded  slightly; 
private  T.  R.  Hooper,  Company  A,  severely  wounded 
in  arm;  Lieutenant  W.  C.  Womack,  Company  E,  se- 
verely wounded  in  thigh;  private  Andrew  Hawkins, 
Company  E,  severely  wounded  in  breast;  Sergeant  J. 
M.  West,  Company  F,  slightly  wounded;  private  L. 
Clark,  ^Company  D,  killed;  private  E.  M.  Irwin,  Com- 
pany K,  severely  wounded  in  arm. 

BEN  RANDALS, 

Captain  Commanding  Sixteenth  Tennessee  Regiment. 
A.  F.  CLAYWELL,  Adjutant. 


4i 6  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 


Official  Report  of  Brigadier  -general  Marcus  J. 
Wright,  of  the  part  taken  by  Wrighfs  Brigade, 
Cheathani's  Division,  Folk's  Corps,  Army  of  Ten- 
nessee, in  the  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Novem- 
ber 24  and  25,  1863. 

HEAD-OJJARTERS  POST,  ATLANTA,  GA.,  May  7,  1864. 
Colonel  JOHN  B.  SALE,  Military  Secretary: 

Colonel: — Although  a  report  of  the  operations  of  my 
command  near  Missionary  Ridge  on  the  24th  and  25!!! 
of  November,  1863,  has  not  been  officially  required 
of  me,  yet  I  have  the  honor  to  request  that  the  follow- 
ing report  be  accepted  by  the  general  commanding  the 
Army  of  Tennessee  at  that  time,  as  a  record  of  the 
part  taken  by  my  brigade  in  the  battle  near  Missionary 
Ridge: 

Being  under  the  immediate  orders  of  the  general 
commanding  on  that  occasion,  I  address  this  commu- 
nication to  you. 

Having  been  in  command  of  the  post  at  Charleston, 
Tenn.,  for  some  weeks,  I  was  ordered  by  telegram  from 
Colonel  Brent,  A.  A.  G.,  on  the  evening  of  the  2^d  of 
November,  to  move  with  all  expedition  by  rail  to 
Chickamauga  Station  via  Dalton,  Ga.,  which  I  exe- 
cuted on  the  first  train  of  cars  I  could  command- 
leaving  Charleston  about  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th  and  arriving  at  Chickamauga  Station  about 
8:30  in  the  morning  on  the  same  day.  I  was  also  or- 
dered to  leave  three  hundred  men  at  Charleston.  In 
conformity  with  which,  I  ordered  the  Thirty-eighth 
Tennessee  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  John  C. 
Carter,  and  my  provost  guard,  under  command  of 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  417 

Lieutenant  Richardson,  to  remain,  making  an  effective 
force  of  about  three  hundred. 

Colonel  Carter  assumed  command  of  the  post,  and 
maintained  his  position  under  the  severest  tests  to 
which  a  soldier  can  be  subjected  with  the  highest  con- 
stancy, gallantry,  and  firmness,  until  pressed  by  a 
column  of  the  enemy  under  General  Sherman,  num- 
bering fifteen  or  sixteen  thousand,  when  he  reluctantly 
retreated  toward  Knoxville,  and  successfully  joined 
Lieutenant-general  Longstreet  in  East  Tennessee,  after 
having  destroyed  the  bridges  at  Charleston  and  Lou- 
don  behind  him.  The  zeal,  ability,  and  courage  with 
which  he  conducted  his  isolated  command  out  of  the 
difficulties  which  environed  him  cannot  be  too  highly 
commended.  I  refer  you  to  his  report,  herewith  sub- 
mitted, for  a  full  and  accurate  statement  of  his  opera- 
tions. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  other  portion  of  my  command, 
numbering  four  small  regiments,  at  Chickamauga  Sta- 
tion, I  was  met  with  an  order  from  Colonel  Brent  to 
proceed  at  once  to  the  mouth  of  the  Chickamauga,  to 
resist  any  attempt  the  enemy  might  make  at  crossing 
the  river  at  that  point,  leaving  a  regiment  to  guard 
the  railroad  bridge  at  Shallow  Ford.  In  consequence 
of  the  weakness  of  my  command,  after  mature  consid- 
eration, the  regiment  I  had  posted  at  Shallow  Ford  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  and  follow  on  with  the  brigade, 
when  the  command  moved  in  the  direction  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Chickamauga.  Brigadier-general  Folk's  brigade 
being  in  position  at  the  railroad  bridge,  General  Polk 
dispatched  a  force  to  the  Shallow  Ford  to  take  the 
place  of  the  regiment  withdrawn  by  me.  I  moved  up 
in  the  direction  indicated  until  I  came  into  a  road  run- 
ning parallel  and  adjacent  to  the  Chickamauga,  on  the 
27 


4i 8  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

margin  of  open  fields,  which  gently  sloped  up  toward 
a  line  of  precipitous  hills  on  the  route.  It  was  a  very 
exposed  position,  but  the  road  passing  through  this 
space  was  the  only  one  practicable  for  artillery  in  the 
direction  of  the  mouth  of  the  creek. 

Captain  R.  F.  Kolb,  with  his  battery,  had  reported 
to  me  at  the  railroad  bridge  for  duty,  and  was  with  my 
command.  While  marching  over  this  ground,  by  the 
right  flank,  the  Eighth  Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel 
John  H.  Anderson  commanding,  on  the  right;  the  Six- 
teenth Tennessee  Regiment,  Colonel  D.  M.  Donnell 
commanding,  following;  and  the  Twenty-eighth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton  commanding, 
in  the  rear,  the  whole  line  was  suddenly  assailed  with 
a  heavy  and  galling  fire  from  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
creek,  at  a  distance  of  not  exceeding  one  hundred 
yards.  The  enemy's  sharp-shooters  were  concealed  in 
the  undergrowth  along  the  bank  and  waited,  before 
opening  their  fire,  until  the  entire  length  of  the  line 
could  be  commanded  by  their  fire.  I  immediately  or- 
dered the  troops  to  form,  advance  to  the  margin  of  the 
creek,  and  fire.  This  they  did  promptly  and  gallantly, 
returning  the  fire  upon  the  foe  with  marked  effect, 
nearly  silencing  their  guns  and  driving  them  behind 
the  railroad  embankment,  where  they  sheltered  them- 
selves and  kept  up  a  brisk  but  desultory  fire  for  sev- 
eral minutes.  In  the  meantime,  Kolb,  to  get  his  bat- 
tery in  position  on  a  commanding  point  to  the  left  of 
my  center,  which  he  did  promptly,  fired  a  few  rounds 
at  the  enemy  from  this  point;  but  ascertaining  that  a 
better  position  might  be  had  on  the  extreme  left,  I  or- 
dered him  to  that  point,  where  he  proceeded  and  kept 
up  a  brisk  artillery  duel  with  the  enemy's  battery,  com- 
posed of  two  three-inch  rifled-guns.  Captain  Kolb's 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  419 

guns  were  served  with  the  greatest  coolness  and  signal 
gallantry,  for  which  he  is  entitled  to  my  thanks  and 
the  commendation  of  the  country.  His  report  is  here- 
with filed. 

Seeing  from  the  position  of  the  grounds,  the  ob- 
structions presented  by  the  intervening  stream,  the 
overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  and  his  being  shel- 
tered by  a  railroad  embankment;  and  being  advised  by 
Colonel  Grigsby,  commanding  the  cavalry,  that  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  already  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  river  above  the  mouth  of  the  Chickamauga, 
and  moved  out  in  the  direction  of  Tyner's  Station,  I 
deemed  it  best  to  withdraw  my  command  through  the 
hills  to  the  rear,  by  the  right  of  companies,  which  was 
done  in  admirable  order,  and  with  but  -little  damage 
from  the  enemy's  artillery  fire;  Captain  Kolb  having 
opened  fire  upon  him  from  an  eligible  position,  to 
which  he  had  withdrawn  through  the  woods  on  a  route 
for  his  battery  which  I  had  reconnoitered  to  prevent 
the  necessity,  if  possible,  of  his  battery  being  exposed 
to  the  enemy's  fire,  in  endeavoring  to  return  by  the 
road  on  which  we  had  approached. 

In  this  action  I  lost  from  my  command  one  killed 
and  eleven  wounded.  My  regimental  commanders 
behaved  with  their  usual  gallantry,  coolness,  and  skill. 
My  troops  displayed  the  highest  qualities  of  veterans — 
intrepidity  and  self-possession  —  when  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  an  unseen  foe.  The  horses  of  my  staff  and 
field  officers  not  having  arrived  from  the  train,  I  was 
necessarily  compelled  to  ride  up  and  down  the  lines 
and  convey  the  orders  to  the  different  commanding 
officers  in  person.  My  staff  rendered  me  all  the  as- 
sistance that  was  practicable  under  the  circumstances. 

I  retired  about  half  a  mile  into  the  hills  and  selected 


420  OFFICIAL  REPORTS. 

a  high  ridge,  where  I  placed  my  command  in  position, 
directing  Colonel  Grigsby  to  occupy  the  right  flank 
with  his  cavalry,  while  the  left  was  protected  by  a  pre- 
cipitous bluff*  extending  to  the  creek.  About  9  o'clock 
P.M.,  I  received  an  order  from  Colonel  Brent  to  move 
with  the  command  to  Chickamauga  Station,  which  I 
reached  in  about  one  hour  and  a  half.  Finding  three 
batteries  there,  I  ordered  them  to  be  disposed  for  the 
defense  of  the  station,  and  selected  a  position  for  my 
brigade  to  defeat  an  apprehended  cavalry  raid.  The 
men  were  ordered  to  rest  in  their  position. 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  I  received 
an  order  to  return  to  the  railroad  bridge,  and  in  the  act 
of  executing  it,  I  was  taken  ill  with  a  severe  chill, 
which  was  brought  on  by  exposure  during  the  preced- 
ing day.  I  immediately  directed  Colonel  John  H.  An- 
derson, senior  colonel  present,  to  take  command  of  the 
brigade  and  carry  out  the  order,  which  he  promptly 
did.  You  are  respectfully  referred  to  his  report  for 
an  account  of  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  brigade. 

It  affords  me  high  satisfaction  to  express  my  ac- 
knowledgement to  Colonel  Grigsby,  commanding  cav- 
alry, and  Captain  Kolb,  commanding  battery,  who 
were  not  of  my  permanent  command,  for  the  valuable 
assistance  rendered  my  command  and  the  intelligent 
counsel  which  they  rendered  me.  Colonel  Grigsby's 
knowledge  of  the  ground  and  his  careful  and  thought- 
ful interest  contributed  materially  to  the  successful 
maneuverings  by  which  my  command  was  saved  from 
a  heavy  and  useless  waste  of  life.  My  officers  and 
men  of  all  grades  deserve  my  acknowledgements  for 
their  good  conduct  and  admirable  coolness,  by  which 
we  succeeded  in  developing  a  very  important  position 
of  the  enemy,  and  checking  any  contemplated  move- 


GENERAL  WRIGHT.  421 

ment  upon  the  right  flank  of  the  army,  by  which  the 
enemy  might  have  succeeded  in  gaining  our  rear,  and 
thus  have  rendered  our  reverses  most  disastrous. 

I  regret  to  report  that  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Long,  which  crossed  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Chickamauga,  succeeded  in  capturing 
my  brigade  train,  which  was  en  route  from  Charleston 
to  Chickamauga.  My  brigade  quartermaster,  learning 
that  a  large  cavalry  force  was  approaching,  had  turned 
his  train  down  the  Ringgold  road,  when  the  enemy 
pursued  and  captured  it.  The  small  detail  guarding 
were  unable  to  make  any  resistance  to  so  overwhelm- 
ing a  force.  Major  Elcan,  assistant  quartermaster,  and 
several  of  the  men  with  him,  escaped  capture.  This 
proved  a  severe  loss  to  my  officers  and  men,  whose 
personal  baggage  was  in  the  train,  as  well  as  a  heavy 
loss  to  the  government. 

All  of  my  staff  discharged  their  duties  promptly  and 
with  the  highest  zeal  and  intelligence,  including  Cap- 
tain Leori  Trousdale,  assistant  adjutant-general;  Cap- 
tain E.  F.  Lee,  assistant  adjutant-general;  First  Lieu- 
tenant E.  F.  Harris,  assistant  aid-de-camp;  and  Sur- 
geon H.  S.  Jones,  brigade  surgeon. 

Surgeon  Jones  was  at  the  head  of  the  column  when 
the  enemy's  fire  opened,  and  rendered  me  material  as- 
sistance in  transmitting  my  orders.  His  field  hospital 
was  established  with  promptitude  under  unusual  diffi- 
culties. 

I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  subordinate 
commanders  for  a  more  minute  statement  of  the  ope- 
rations of  their  commands. 

I  am,  Colonel,  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

MARCUS  J.  WRIGHT, 

Brigadier -general  Commanding. 


422  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

This  portion  of  the  Confederate  Arm}'  is  worthy  of 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  how- 
ever, that  our  limited  space  forbids  a  fuller  detail  of  its 
operations  and  the  many  hard-fought  battles  in  which 
it  was  engaged.  The  history  of  modern  or  ancient 
warfare  has  never  recorded  more  gallant  service,  or  the 
achievement  of  more  consummate  victories  in  the  face 
of  apparently  impassable  obstructions.  Like  Stonewall 
Jackson,  if  any  man  could  accomplish  impossibilities, 
it  was  General  Forrest.  He  seemed  to  laugh  at  obsta- 
cles, and  look  with  contempt  upon  what  would  seem 
to  others  practically  impossible.  His  career  in  the  four 
years'  war  between  the  States  was  as  romantic  as  it 
was -brilliant.  Its  record  is  full  of  gallant  and  glowing 
achievements,  and  though  the  pe>i  of  the  historian  has 
faithfully  portrayed  many  of  his  daring  exploits,  the 
true  merits  of  this  gallant  hero  have  never  been  fully 
given. 

General  Nathan  Bedford  Forrest  was  born  near 
Chapel  Hill,  in  what  was  then  Bedford  county,  Ten- 
nessee, July  13,  1831.  The  place  is  now  a  part  of  Mar- 
shall county,  on  the  waters  of  Duck  River.  His  early 
life  was  mixed  with  hardships  and  adversity,  to  some 
extent  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  father  and  other 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  423 

members  of  the  family  in  succession,  leaving  the  family 
affairs  in  an  embarrassed  condition  financially,  by 
which  young  Forrest  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources early  in  life,  with  a  limited  education.  He 
grew  up  inured  to  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and 
his  manhood  developed  that  determined  firmness  and 
unrelaxing  energy  that  characterized  his  after-life,  and 
rendered  his  career  as  a  soldier  so  remarkably  famous. 

General  Forrest  was  in  many  respects  the  counter- 
part of  Stonewall  Jackson.  He  was  possessed  to  a 
remarkable  degree  of  that  disposition  that  naturally 
inspired  courage  and  confidence.  As  a  disciplinarian, 
he  was  stern,  rigid,  and  exacting,  though  kind,  hu- 
mane, and  generous.  As  an  officer,  he  was  brave  and 
fearless.  He  appeared  perfectly  insensible  of  danger, 
and  never  called  upon  his  men  to  do  a  thing  that  he 
was  not  willing  to  do  himself.  He  led  his  men  in  ac- 
tion, and  expected  of  every  soldier  the  full  measure  of 
his  capacity  to  render  efficient  service,  and  nothing 
short  of  this  would  render  satisfaction.  By  discipline 
and  association,  he  infused  his  own  spirit  into  his  com- 
mand, and  every  soldier  under  him  soon  learned  that 
their  legitimate  business  was  TO  FIGHT,  and  to  render 
every  blow  effective  upon  the  enemy. 

General  Forrest  was  of  a  sober  and  grave  tempera- 
ment, and  always  seemed  to  be  in  a  very  deep  study. 
He  was  to  some  extent  absent  minded  when  off  the 
field,  and  seldom,  if  ever,  indulged  in  jest.  His  whole 
self  appeared  to  be  absorbed  in  the  work  he  had  in 
hand,  in  maturing  plans  of  operation,  and  putting 
them  into  execution.  As  a  commander,  he  was  not 
only  busy,  but  untiring  and  persistent  in  the  execution 
of  his  plans,  which  were  always  well  matured  and 
successfully  carried  out. 


424  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  the  States, 
General  Forrest  was  a  resident  of  Memphis,  where  he 
had  served  as  alderman  for  several  years.  He  was 
possessed  of  a  large  fortune  in  landed  estates  and  ne- 
groes, as  well  as  stocks  and  securities.  As  the  war- 
cloud  lowered,  Forrest  made  such  disposal  of  his  affairs 
as  was  practicable,  and  entered  the  Confederate  service 
in  June,  1861.  At  this  time  a  company  of  "mounted 
riflemen"  were  forming  at  Memphis  under  Dr.  Josiah 
White.  Forrest  entered  this  company  as  a  private, 
-June  14,  1861.  This  company  became  a  part  of  the 
garrison  at  Randolph,  Tenn.  In  July,  Governor  Har- 
ris called  Forrest  to  Memphis,  where  he  was  urged  to 
raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  for  the  Confederate  service. 
General  Polk  also  urged  the  measure,  and  Forrest  was, 
accordingly,  commissioned  a  colonel,  with  authority  in 
accordance  with  the  governor's  request. 

Colonel  Forrest  enlisted  his  men  rapidly,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Kentucky  for  the  purpose  oT  securing  arms 
and  accouterments  as  well  as  recruits.  In  both  he  was 
successful.  The  brilliant  career  of  "FORREST'S  CAV- 
ALRY" here  had  its  origin.  Armed  and  equipped,  the 
regiment  operated  upon  the  Mississippi  river  during 
the  first  year  of  the  war,  in  which  several  engagements 
took  place  with  the  Federal  gun-boats. 

Forrest's  Cavalry  was  first  conspicuously  known  in 
the  affair  with  the  enemy  at  Murfreesboro  in  July, 
1862.  Colonel  Forrest  had  started  from  Chattanooga 
on  the  6th,  with  about  one  thousand  men,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reconnoitering  the  position  of  the  enemy  about 
Nashville.  As  he  passed  McMinnville,  he  received 
reliable  information  of  the  situation  between  that  point 
and  Nashville;  and  learning  that  a  Federal  garrison 
was  at  Murfreesboro,  he  resolved  to  take  the  place  and 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  425 

capture  the  garrison.  He  had  increased  his  command 
to  thirteen  hundred  men  by  a  junction  with  Colonel 
Morrison.  With  this  force  he  left  McMinnville  in  the 
afternoon  of  July  12,  1862,  and  arrived  at  Woodbury 
about  midnight.  The  Federals  had  just  been  to  Wood- 
bury,  and  had  arrested  and  taken  away  many  of  the 
people  to  Murfreesboro.  The  people  of  Woodbury 
were  in  great  excitement.  The  ladies  of  the  place 
were  much  affected  at  the  loss  of  kinsmen,  and  when 
Colonel  Forrest  heard  their  statement,  he  assured  them 
in  response  that  they  might  confidently  look  for  a  res- 
toration of -their  kinsmen  by  the  following  sunset,  and 
assured  the  ladies  of  his  ability  to  perform  the  promise. 
By  five  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  Colonel 
W barton  captured  the  pickets  on  the  outskirts  of  Mur- 
freesboro, and  the  plan  of  attack  was  arranged.  The 
Federals  were  surprised  and  captured  after  some  skir- 
mishing. In  this  affair  Colonel  Duffield,  the  Federal 
commander,  was  wounded.  The  Confederate  citizens 
were  released  and  returned  to  their  homes.  Forrest 
was  made  a  brigadier-general  soon  after  this  affair 
with  the  enemy  at  Murfreesboro.  Continuing  his  op- 
erations in  Middle  Tennessee,  he  destroyed  the  railroad 
bridges  from  Tullahoma  to  McMinnville.  The  Fed- 
erals had  placed  a  new  garrison  at  Murfreesboro  so 
strong  that  Forrest  did  not  attempt  the  place  a  second 
time,  but  proceeded  to  the  mountains  near  Altamont, 
where  he  rested  his  command  for  a  while.  We  next 
hear  of  him  in  various  encounters  with  the  enemy  in 
West  Tennessee  and  North  Mississippi.  Forrest's 
cavalry  seemed  to  be  ubiquitous.  The  Federals  never 
knew  when  he  would  appear  iipon  their  flanks  or  in 
their  rear.  In  the  Kentucky  campaign  this  cavalry  did 
valuable  service.  On  the  march  from  Munfordville, 


426  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

this  cavalry  harassed  the  flanks  of  Buell's  army  and  de- 
stroyed the  bridges  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railrqad  from  Munfordville  to  Nolin.  This  command 
picketed  the  roads  from  Bardstown  to  Louisville,  Frank- 
fort, and  other  points.  On  the  eve  of  the  battle  of 
Perry ville  (September  26),  General  Forrest  was  or- 
dered by  General  Bragg  to  repair  with  his  command 
immediately  to  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  The  object  of 
this  move  was  to  gather  recruits,  and  General  Bragg 
informed  General  Forrest  that  such  recruits  AS  he 
might  raise  were  to  be  under  his  immediate  command. 
On  September  28,  Forrest  left  BardstoWn  with  his 
command  for  Murfreesboro,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty -five  miles.  This  journey  was  performed 
within  a  period  of  five  days.  Forrest  assembled  his 
cavalry  at  Murfreesboro  and  gathered  recruits  from 
different  sources  until  his  command  was  materially 
strengthened.  The  Confederates  had  taken  possession 
of  Lavergne,  and  the  forces  consisted  of  several  regi- 
ments of  militia  and  one  regiment  of  cavalry.  These 
troops  were  all  raw,  and  the  Federal  commander  it 
Nashville  resolved  upon  the  capture  of  the  place.  By 
a  night  march,  on  Octqber  6,  the  Federals  gained  posi- 
tion in  front  and  rear  of  the  Confederates,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  yth  opened  the  attack.  The  Federals 
were  commanded  by  General  Palmer.  The  Confed- 
erates were  defeated.  The  Federals  entered  Lavergne. 
The  militia  gave  way  in  the  fight  and  fled  in  confusion. 
The  Thirty-second  Alabama  was  the  only  regiment  of 
veterans  on  the  scene,  and  this  regiment  held  the  en- 
emy in  check  and  prevented  the  Confederate  defeat 
from  becoming  a  rout.  .  Forrest  was  at  Murfreesboro. 
As  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  disaster  at  Lavergne,  he 
hurried  to  the  scene  with  re-enforcements.  The  Fed- 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  427 

erals  had  withdrawn  to  Nashville,  and  the  Confederates 
re-occupied  Lavergne.  Pickets  were  placed  on  all  the 
approaches  to  Nashville,  and  the  Confederates  pushed 
their  picket  lines  to  the  very  gates  of  the  city.  During 
the  months  of  October  and  November,  Forrest  was 
busy  in  arranging  his  forces  for  more  effective  service. 
Since  the  battle  of  Perryville,  the  Confederates  had 
withdrawn  from  Kentucky,  and  were  being  collected 
under  Bragg  in  the  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro.  The 
Federals,  under  Rosecrans  (who  had  superseded  Buell), 
were  now  being  collected  at  Nashville,  and  two  pow- 
erful armies  were  collected  face  to  face,  ready  for  the 
sanguinary  conflict  soon  to  ensue.  The  great  battles 
of  Murfreesboro  came  off  on  December  31  and  Janu- 
ary i,  following.  The  Confederates  withdrew  to  Shel- 
byville  after  this  battle,  and  Forrest's  cavalry  was  en- 
gaged principally  in  picket  duty  on  the  outposts  and 
on  the  flanks  of  the  army  during  the  remainder  of  the 
winter. 

Previous  to  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  General 
Wheeler  was  placed  in  command  of  all  the  cavalry, 
with  his  head-quarters  at  Lavergne.  Forrest  was  or- 
dered with  his  brigade  to  Columbia,  with  a  view  to 
future  operations  in  West  Tennessee.  As  soon  as  his 
men  were  properly  armed  and  mounted,  Forrest  pro- 
ceeded upon  his  West  Tennessee  campaign.  A  lively 
and  spirited  campaign,  checkered  with  many  thrilling 
incidents,  was  the  result.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
give  the  details  of  the  expedition  in  the  space  allotted 
to  this  narrative.  Forrest  was  in  constant  encounters 
with  the  enemy,  in  which  he  was  generally  victorious. 
In  some  instances  he  encountered  such  vastly  superior 
numbers  that  he  would  be  forced  to  fall  back  in  haste, 
but  his  retreats  were  rapid,  and  only  consummated  in 
order  to  strike  the  enemy  from  an  unexpected  point. 


428  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

In  April,  1863,  Forrest  was  sent  by  General  Bragg 
to  the  relief  of  Colonel  Roddy,  who  was  pressed  by 
two  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy — one  from  Corinth, 
under  Dodge,  the  other  from  Eastport,  under  Streight. 
These  two  columns  were  marching  upon  Tuscumbia, 
Ala.  This  was  the  inauguration  of  the  celebrated 
"Streight  raid,"  in  which  Forrest  displayed  his  best 
generalship,  as  well  as  the  best  fighting  qualities  of 
himself  and  his  command.  The  Federals  being  so  far 
the  superior  of  the  Confederates  in  numbers,  and  hav- 
ing gained  such  decided  advantages  meanwhile,  were 
pushing  their  advantages  with  vigor.  The  people  be- 
came alarmed  for  the  safety  of  North  Georgia,  and 
Bragg's  communications  with  Atlanta  and  Montgom- 
ery. Dodge  had  commenced  a  retreat  with  a  view  to 
cover  the  movements  of  Streight,  who  was  by  this  time 
moving  with  all  his  might  in  the  direction  of  Rome. 
At  this  juncture  Forrest  divided  his  forces,  and  placed 
apart  under -Roddy  to  follow  Streight.  The  remain- 
der of  his  force  was  sent  around  to  the  north-east  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  Streight's  command  by  a  flank 
movement.  The  men  under  Streight  were  the  Fifty- 
first  and  Seventy-third  Indiana  Regiments;  Eightieth 
Illinois,  Third  Ohio,  and  two  companies  of  Ala- 
bama (Union)  cavalrv.  They  had  marched  from  Tus- 
cumbia in  the  rear  of  Dodge,  who  had  been  sent  in  ad- 
vance to  divert  the  attention  of  the  Confederates  and 
disguise  Streight's  real  intentions.  The  Federals  were 
conducted  by  native  guides,  and  had  succeeded  in  get- 
ting so  far  that  they  felt  their  plans  almost  accom- 
plished without  hinderance.  The  Confederates  gave 
hot  pursuit  when  the  intentions  of  Streight  had  fully 
developed  themselves.  A  running  fight  now  set  in. 
Forrest  seeing  that  Streight  intended  to  avoid  an  en- 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  429 

gagement  by  hurrying  on  in  the  direction    of  Rome, 
pressed    onward    and   pushed   his    adversary   with   all 
haste  and  vigor.     Dodge  had   commenced  his  retreat, 
and  left  the  country  desolate,  and  a  line  of  smoky  ruins 
marked  his  path.     In  the  engagements  thus  far  Forrest 
had   captured    quite    a    number    of  prisoners.     Roddy 
was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  prisoners  and  return 
to  Decatur.     Detachments  were  sent  out  on  the  flanks 
of  the  raiders  to  guard  the  passes,  and  the  pursuit  was 
pressed  with  renewed  vigor  by  Colonels  Biffle  and  Mc- 
Lemore.     Forrest  with  his  escort,  together  with  a  part 
of  the  Fourth  Tennessee  Cavalry,  rushed  forward   for 
the  purpose  of  overtaking  the  enemy  and  bringing  on 
an  engagement.     A  running  fight  of  some   hours  was 
the  result.     Streight,  seeing  that  an  engagement  was 
forced  upon  him,  formed  his  main  line  on  an  elevation 
about  half  a  mile  east  of  Long  Creek.     Biffle  and  Mc- 
Lemore  came  up  and   formed   their  line,  having  dis- 
mounted, and  proceeded  as  infantry.     It  was  near  dark 
when  the  fight  began,  and   for  three  hours  the  contest 
was  stubborn.     The   Federals  gave  way   slowly,   and 
the  Confederates  pushed   every  advantage.     At  eight 
o'clock  Colonel  Biffle  was  ordered  around  the  Federals 
for  the   purpose  of  attacking   the  horse-holders.     In  a 
-  short  time  a  brisk  skirmish  was  opened  on  the  Federal 
rear.     The  Confederates  charged  in  front,  and  Streight 
was  forced  to  fall  back  in  confusion.     The  loss  on  the 
.    Federal   side    was    fifty   killed,    with    a   corresponding 
number   of  wounded.     The  Confederates  recovered  a 
section   of  artillery   which    had  been   captured   a   few 
days  previously,  and  captured  about  thirty  wagons  and 
teams.     The    Confederate    loss    was    slight.     Sti'eight 
now    realized    his    situation.     The    Confederates  were 
pushing  him   desperately,  and   had   sent  detachments 


43°  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

around  to  cut  off  his  escape.  Forrest  followed  up,  and 
by  eleven  o'clock  the  pursuit  was  hastened.  The  stars 
were  shining  and  the  darkness  of  the  night  was  to 
some  extent  diminished.  Shortly  after  midnight 
Straight  made  another  stand  on  the  south  bank  of  a 
creek.  The  banks  were  high  and  steep.  Straight  was 
soon  dislodged- from  this  position  and  he  resumed  his 
retreat.  Forrest  now  halted  and  rested  his  men  for  a 
couple  of  hours  and  renewed  the  chase.  Streight 
now  turned  in  the  direction  of  Gadsden,  Ala.  A  run- 
ning fight  occurred  again,  and  Streight,  after  crossing 
the  Black  Warrior,  hurried  on  at  a  desperate  rate  with 
the  Confederates  at  his  heels.  The  Confederates  at- 
tacked the  rear-guard  before  it  had  time  to  cross  the 
river.  A  running  fight  was  kept  up.  Streight  now 
resorted  to  every  means  available  to  hinder  pursuit. 
After  crossing  a  deep  and  rapid  stream,  the  bridge  was 
destroyed.  The  banks  of  this  creek  were  high,  and  a 
crossing  was  rendered  difficult;  yet  the  Confederates 
pressed  on.  The  Federals  having  crossed  Black  Creek, 
the  bridge  was  set  on  fire  and  destroyed.  The  current 
was  swift.  The  banks  were  high,  and  to  effect  a  cross- 
ing was  considered  impossible.  Forrest  was  non- 
plussed when  he  came  to  the  stream,  and  paused.  It 
was  impossible  to  ford  the  stream,  and  while  he  was 
pondering  over  the  situation  a  little  gii'l  came  up  and 
presented  herself  to  General  Forrest,  and  told  him  of 
an  old  ford  not  a  great  way  off.  Forrest  took  the  little 
girl  up  behind  him,  and  she  showed  him  the  way  to 
the  ford.  The  Confederates  wrere  soon  across  and 
pushing  the  Federals  with  their  usual  vigor.  The  men 
safely  over  the  stream,  General  Forrest  sent  the  little 
girl  home  under  special  escort.  The  name  of  this  little 
girl  was  Emma  Sanson.  Her  mother  lived  near  the 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  431 

bridge,  and  the  Federals  in  passing  her  house  captured 
some  young  men  who  were  at  home  on  furlough. 
Upon  the  request  of  the  young  lady  that  her  brother 
be  restored,  General  Forrest  assured  her  that  it  should 
be  done  before  ten  o'clock  on  the  following  morning. 
After  crossing  Black  Creek,  the  Confederates  pursued 
the  raiders  ten  miles,  and  overtook  them  on  Saturday 
evening,  May  2,  at  a  village  called  Turkeytown.  The 
Federals  soon  gave  way. 

In  this   encounter   the   Federal   colonel,   Hathaway, 
was  killed.     The  Confederate  loss  was  light. 

The  Confederates  were  now  reduced  to  about  five 
hundred  men.  So  great  had  been  the  zeal  of  the  pur- 
suit that  many  had  become  exhausted.  The  Federals 
had  crossed  the  Coosa  River  and  destroyed  the  bridge. 
The  Confederates  carried  over  the  ammunition  by 
hand,  and  in  a  short  time  were  in  hot  pursuit.  Forrest 
had  sent  runners  to  Rome  to  notify  the  authorities  of 
the  situation,  and  requesting  that  they  bring  out  every 
available  man.  Colonel  McLemore  moved  on  the 
right  flank  and  Colonel  Biffle  on  the  left,  while  the 
militia  were  in  front  of  the  raiders.  Forrest  now  sent 
an  officer  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  demand  "an  imme- 
diate surrender  of  the  Federal  force,  in  order  to  stop 
the  further  and  useless  effusion  of  blood."  Colonel 
Straight,  in  reply,  asked  to  communicate  with  General 
Forrest  in  person.  The  two  generals  met  in  the  woods 
and  talked  the  matter  over.  Streight  hesitated  to  sur- 
render unless  assured  that  he  would  be  surrendering 
to  a  force  at  least  his  equal  in  point  of  numbers.  Just 
at  this  time  a  section  of  artillery  came  up  and  was  pri- 
vately instructed  to  move  in  a  circle.  Streight  be- 
lieved that  several  batteries  were  moving  up  and  taking 
position  at  the  limit  agreed  upon  in  the  stipulations 


432  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

made  under  the  flag  of  truce.  Impressed  with  this 
belief,  Straight  asked  of  General  Forrest  how  much 
artillery  he  had.  Forrest  replied,  "Enough  to  destroy 
your  command  in  thirty  minutes."  Colonel  Straight 
still  insisted  on  knowing  the  strength  of  the  enemy  to 
whom  he  was  asked  to  surrender,  and  held  a  consulta- 
tion with  his  officers.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  re- 
turned and  repeated  his  desire  to  he  assured  that  he 
was  confronted  by  at  least  an  equal  force.  Forrest  re- 
plied, "-That  discussion  was  entirely  useless — that  he  had 
known  of  this  movemsnt  from  its  first  inception,  and 
prepared  for  it."  Forrest  further  called  Streight's  at- 
tention to  the  fact  that  he  ( Straight)  had  a  river  on  his 
right  that  was  not  fordable.  a  mountain  on  his  left  that 
shut  him  off  from  escape,  a  force  in  his  front  with 
which  he  was  not  able  to  cope,  and  a  fqrce  in  his  rear 
that  had  gained  strength  every  day.  If  he  (Straight) 
failed  to  surrender  he  would  thus  incur  upon  himself 
the  gravest  consequences.  Straight  clung  to  his  old  idea 
of  equal  numbers,  and  was  in  the  act  of  returning  to 
his  men,  when  Captain  Pointer  invited  him  to  take  a 
drink  before  parting,  and  in  a  pleasant  manner  sug- 
gested that  it  might  be  the  last  he  would  ever  take. 
The  offer  was  accepted  and  the  two  opposing  com.- 
manders  shook  hands  and  separated.  Straight  had  not 
gone  far  before  he  met  a  white  flag  from  his  own  men, 
and  he  returned  with  the  flag  to  Confederate  head- 
quarters. He  announced  the  desire  of  his  officers  to 
surrender,  and  proposed  to  capitulate  upon  condition 
that  "  all  were  to  be  held  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  the 
officers  should  retain  their  side-arms  and  personal  bag- 
gage." The  offer  was  accepted. 

In  order  to  keep  the  enemy  still  deceived,  Captain 
Pointer  asked   of  Forrest  what  disposition   should   be 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  433 

made  of  several  imaginary  detachments  of  troops. 
Forrest  replied  in  a  corresponding  manner,  and  Cap- 
tain Pointer  would  gallop  away  hurriedly  to  execute 
the  orders.  Straight  and  his  men,  1,466  in  all,  had  sur- 
rendered to  a  very  small  force,  and  to  disguise  this  fact 
Forrest  informed  Streight  "That,  as  forage  was  very 
scarce  in  Rome,  he  'would  be  guarded  to  that  point  by 
onlv  his  escort  and  one  regiment." 

The  route  of  Streight's  raid  was  from  Courtland  to 
Moulton,  thence  to  Danville,  thence  to  Mt.  Alvis, 
Blountsville,  Walnut  Grove,  McCluskey's,  Bennetts- 
ville,  Wills's  Valley,  Gadsden,  Turkeytown,  King's 
Hill,  to  Rome.  The  capitulation  was  effected  on  May 
3,  1863,  within  eighteen  miles  of  Rome,  between  the 
Coosa  and  Chattahooche  Rivers,  in  that  part  of  the 
county  known  as  "  Straight  Neck "  precinct.  For- 
rest received  quite  an  ovation  at  the  hands  of  the 
Southern  people  for  his  great  victory. 

SPRING    HILL. 

Shortly  after  the  capture  of  Colonel  Streight,  For- 
rest was  ordered  to  Spring  Hill,  to  take  charge  of  all 
the  cavalry  in  that  section.  Forrest  assumed  command 
on  May  16,  with  head-quarters  at  Spring  Hill.  The 
summej:  months  were  devoted  to  various  movements 
on  the  flanks  of  Rosecrans's  army.  During  the  latter 
part  of  June,  Forrest  was  ordered  to  Shelbyville,  and 
performed  a  prominent  part  in  the  retreat  of  the  Con- 
federates from  Shelbyville  to  Chattanooga. 

CHICK  AM  AUGA. 

At    the   battle  of  Chickamauga,   Forrest's  Cavalry 
brought  on  the   attack  on  the  right,  where   they  dis- 
mounted and  performed  the  service  of  infantry.    Walk- 
28 


434  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

er's  division  formed  on  the  left  of  Forrest,  and  Cheat- 
ham's  division  on  the  left  of  Walker's.  In  this  battle 
the  cavalry  did  most  efficient  service. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  battle  and  retreat  of  the 
enemy,  Forrest's  Cavalry  pursued  the  enemy  across  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  and  the  Confederate  army  following,  oc- 
cupied the  ridge  on  the  morning  of  September  21. 

During  the  winter  of  1863,  Forrest's  Cavalry  oper- 
ated in  East  Tennessee,  and  engaged  in  many  skir- 
mishes with  the  enemy. 

FORREST    A    MAJOR-GENERAL. 

On  December  4,  1863,  Forrest  was  commissioned  a 
major-general  and  ordered  to  West  Tennessee.  His 
territory  was  "Forrest's  Cavalry  Department,"  com- 
prising West  Tennessee  and  North  Mississippi.  His 
command  embraced  the  following  brigades  and  regi- 
ments: 

First  Brigade — Twelfth  Tennessee,  Lieutenant-col- 
onel J.  U.  Green;  Fourteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  J.  J. 
Neely,  Fifteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  F.  M.  Stewart; 
Sixteenth  Tennessee,  Colonel  Thomas  H.  Logwood; 
Seventeenth  Tennessee.  Major  Marshall;  Street's  and 
Bennett's  Battalions  Tennessee  Volunteers. 

Second  Brigade — Colonel  Robert  McCullock  (Sec- 
ond Missouri) — Second  Missouri  Regiment,  Lieuten- 
ant-colonel R.  A.  McCullock;  Willis's  Texas  Battal- 
ion, Lieutenant-colonel  Leo  Willis;  Faulkner's  Ken- 
tucky Regiment,  Colonel  W.  W.  Faulkner;  Keizer's 
and  Franklin's  Tennessee  Battalions;  Chambers's  Bat- 
talion (Mississippi),  A.  H.  Chambers;  Second  Arkan- 
sas (remnant),  Captain  T.  M.  Cochran. 

Third  Brigade — Colonel  T.  H.  Bell  (2,000  men) — 
Russell's  Tennessee  Regiment,  Greers's  Tennessee 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  435 

Regiment,  Newsom's  Tennessee  Regiment,  Will- 
son's  Tennessee  Regiment,  Barteau's  Tennessee  Regi- 
ment. 

Fourth  Brigade — Colonel  J.  E.  Forrest — McDon- 
ald's Battalion,  Seventh  Tennessee  Regiment,  Mc- 
Guirk's  Regiment,  Third  Mississippi  Regiment  (State 
troops),  Fifth  Mississippi,  Lieutenant-colonel  Barks- 
dale;  Nineteenth  Mississippi  Battalion. 

The  Second  and  Third  Brigades  were  formed  into  a 
division,  and  placed  under  command  of  Brigadier-gen- 
eral J.  R.  Chalmers. 

General  Forrest  established  his  head-quarters  at  Ox- 
ford, Miss.  The  Federals  at  this  time  were  meditating 
a  movement  on  Meridian,  and  Forrest  was  busy  in 
penetrating  the  designs  of  the  enemy,  and  using  every 
means  at  his  command  to  thwart  their  consummation. 
As  a  consequence,  there  was  a  constant  and  stirring 
movement  between  the  opposing  armies,  resulting  in 
frequent  skirmishes  and  several  hard-fought  battles 
within  the  boundaries  of  General  Forrest's  department. 

Later  in  the  spring  of  1864,  the  cavalry  command 
in  Mississippi  was  increased  by  three  regiments  of 
Kentucky  infantry,  which  had  been  transferred  to  For- 
rest's Cavalry  Department.  These  three  regiments 
numbered  seven  hundred  men.  These,  with  others, 
were  organized  into  the  Second  Division  of  Cavalry 
and  placed  under  command  of  Brigadier-general  Abe 
Buford  on  March  8,  1864. 

PADUCAH. 

To  give  the  details  of  the  daring  deeds  and  glorious 
achievements  of  Forrest's  Cavalry  in  this  his  new  field 
of  operations  would,  of  itself,  require  volumes.  For- 
rest was  in  constant  contact  with  the  enemy.  On 


436  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

March  25,  1864,  he  made  a  descent  upon  Paducah  and 
captured  the  town,  but  the  Federals  were  garrisoned 
in  a  strong  fortress  below  the  town,  and  the  point  was 
also  protected  by  two  gun-boats.  When  the  attack 
was  made  upon  the  fortress  the  Confederates  suffered 
a  severe  loss  and  failed  to  carry  the  works.  Forrest 
then  sent  a  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  garrison, 
and  added,  "  That  if  it  became  necessary  to  take  the  posi- 
tion by  force  he  would  not  be  responsible  for  the  con- 
sequences." This  demand  was  answered  by  Colonel 
Hicks  with  a  positive  refusal.  While  the  parley  was 
going  on,  the  Confederates  were  gathering  up  supplies 
and  stock  from  the  town  and  vicinity.  Forrest  recon- 
noitered  the  position  and  declined  the  idea  of  any  fur- 
ther assault  on  the  ground  that  the  capture  of  the 
place  would  involve  a  sacrifice  greater  than  the  capture 
would  justify,  and  withdrew  from  the  place. 

The  threat  that  was  intimated  in  Forrest's  demand 
for  surrender,  has  been  severely  criticised  by  the  North- 
ern press,  but  the  demand  was  made  under  circum- 
stances in  which  a  little  effort  was  made  at  intimidation 
merely — a  measure  justified  in  war. 


FORT    PILLOW. 


The  next  point  where  Forrest's  Cavalry  figured,  even 
more  prominently  than  in  the  "  Streight  raid,"  was  the 
affair  with  the  enemy  at  Fort  Pillow,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  This  occurred  on  April  12,  1864.  It  ap- 
pears that  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  some  negro 
troops  and  West  Tennessee  (Federal)  troops  and  a 
corresponding  amount  of  artillery,  all  commanded  by 
Major  Booth.  These  Federal  Tennesseans  were  from 
the  surrounding  country,  and  were  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  people.  Between  these  and  the 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  437 

Confederate  Tennesseans  there  existed  the  greatest 
antipathy.  By  mutual  threats,  a  desperate  state  of 
feeling  existed,  not  only  between  the  men  but  toward 
the  families  of  these  people  mutually.  The  Union 
families  were  persecuted  to  some  extent  by  the  Con- 
federates of  that  section  of  country,  and  the  men  of 
these  families  were  in  the  garrison  at  Fort  Pillow. 
These  men  would  come  out  from  the  fort,  accompanied 
by  negro  soldiers,  and  would  insult  the  women  of  their 
Confederate  neighbors,  and  commit  various  depreda- 
tions upon  the  community.  In  this  manner  the  garri- 
son at  Fort  Pillow  became  a  terror  to  the  country. 
Forrest  was  solicited  by  a  delegation  of  citizens  to  look 
into  the  matter  and  punish  the  offenders.  When  urged 
by  the  ladies  of  the  country,  he  made  a  promise  simi- 
lar to  his  promises  at  Woodbury  and  to  the  ladies  at 
Black  Creek  when  he  was  after  Streight.  He  assured 
them  that  "the  matter  would  receive  prompt  atten- 
tion." Faithfully  did  he  execute  his  promise  in  this  as 
in  the  other  two  instances. 

With  his  usual  sagacity  and  celerity,  he  invested 
the  fortress  on  April  12,  and  planting  sharp-shooters 
under  cover  at  the  most  advantageous  points,  he  be- 
sieged the  place.  Having  carried  on  an  active  skirmish 
for  some  time  with  his  sharp-shooters,  Forrest  had  now 
approached  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  fort, 
and  having  fully  ascertained  the  position  and  strength 
of  the  garrison,  he  was  satisfied  of  his  ability  to  take 
the  place.  Accordingly,  he  sent  Captain  Walter  A. 
Goodman,  of  Genei'al  Chalmers's  staff,  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  Major  Booth,  and  a  demand  for  the  surrender 
of  the  place.  The  demand  was  in  these  words: 


438  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

HEAD-OJJARTERS  FORREST'S  CAVALRY,) 

NEAR  FORT  PILLOW,  April  12,  1864.    | 

Sir: — As  your  gallant  defense  of  the  fort  has  entitled  you  to 
the  treatment  of  brave  men,  I  now  demand  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  your  forces,  at  the  same  time  assuring  you  that  they 
will  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  I  have  received  a  fresh  sup- 
ply of  ammunition  and  can  easily  take  your  position. 

N.  B.  FORREST. 
To  Major  L.  F.  BOOTH,  Commanding  United  States  Forces. 

In  the  engagement  preceding  the  demand  for  the 
surrender,  Major  Booth  was  killed,  and  the  command 
of  the  garrison  devolved  upon  Major  W.  F.  Bradford, 
who  was  commander  of  -the  Thirteenth  Tennessee 
Battalion.  This  command  was  very  odious  to  the  Con- 
federates, especially  those  from  West  Tennessee.  Ma- 
jor Bradford  replied  over  the  signature  of  Major  Booth, 
who  had  been  dead  for  over  an  hour.  Bradford  seemed 
inclined  to  waive  proceedings,  and  asked  an  hour  for 
consultation  with  the  officers  of  the  gun-boat  in  refer- 
ence to  the  surrender  of  the  garrison  and  the  gun-boat. 
General  Forrest  immediately  replied  that  he  had  not 
demanded,  and  did  not  ask.  the  surrender  of  the  gun- 
boat, but*had  only  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  gar- 
rison, and  would  give  twenty  minutes  for  a  decision, 
and  added  that  "He  could  not  be  responsible  for  the 
consequences  if  obliged  to  storm  the  place."  This 
clause  was  added,  not  through  any  desire  or  intention 
on  the  part  of  General  Forrest  to  go  beyond  the  usages 
of  war,  but  through  a  knowledge  of  the  inveterate 
hatred  borne  by  'his  Tennessee  troops  toward  the 
Tennessee  troops  of  the  garrison,  and  especially  the 
negro  troops f  and  he  felt  assured  that  they  would, 
on  this  account,  be  liable  to  go  beyond  the  bounds  of 
restraint  toward  the  garrison,  if  he  should  be  compelled 
to  take  the  place  by  force. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  439 

While  this  parley  was  going  on,  several  steamers 
came  in  sight,  and  Forrest,  believing  that  the  parley 
was  continued  by  Bradford  to  cover  the  arrival  of  re- 
inforcements, hastily  sent  a  detachment  to  occupy  the 
old  intrenchments  and  prevent  the  landing  of  troops. 
This  detachment  was  under  command  of  Captain  An- 
derson, and  his  instructions  were  only  to  prevent  the 
landing  of  troops  during  the  truce.  As  the  transports 
approached,  Captain  Anderson  fired  a  few  shots 
through  their  pilot-house,  and  they  changed  their 
course.  For  this  act  Forrest  was  charged  with  violat- 
ing the  flag  of  truce,  but  he  was  only  acting  to  meet 
such  a  violation  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Bradford 
seemed  impressed  with  an  idea  that  he  was  not  nego- 
tiating with  Forrest,  and  seemed  anxious  to  know  that 
this  general  was  actually  before  him.  While  yet  in 
doubt  about  the  matter,  he  sent  a  reply  over  the  signa- 
ture of  "Booth,"  in  these  words:  "Your  demand  does 
not  have  the  desired  effect."  When  Forrest  read  this 
reply,  he  said:  "This  will  not  do;  send  it  back  and  say 
to  Major  Booth  that  I  must  have  an  answer  in  plain 
English — yes,  or  no."  Forrest  believed  thait  the  fort 
would  be  surrendered,  but  in  a  short  time  a  reply  came 
from  the  garrison  positively  refusing  to  capitulate. 

Forrest  immediately  proceeded  to  storm  the  place, 
and  pushed  into  the  Federal  works.  The  negro  troops 
threw  down  their  guns  and  attempted  to  run  out  at  a 
gap  with  a  view  of  escaping  to  the  gun-boat.  Cap- 
tain Anderson  poured  a  destructive  volley  into  their 
ranks  from  the  river  bank,  and  the  garrison,  with  its 
colors  flying,  ran  in  confusion  about  the  fortress,  and 
were  shot  down  at  will.  Forrest  came  up  meanwhile, 
and  ordered  his  men  to  cease  firing,  though  the  garri- 
son had  not  surrendered.  Many  of  the  wounded  had 


440  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

scrambled  off  to  some  cabins,  which  caught  fire,  and 
before  the  Confederates  were  aware  of  the  situation, 
this  portion  of  the  Federal  wounded  had  been  severely 
burned.  Forrest  took  steps  immediately  to  care  for  the 
wounded,  after  having  gathered  up  his  prisoners.  The 
fight  was  a  desperate  one,  and  by  the  Northern  press 
was  looked  upon  as  a  massacre.  The  garrison  was 
slaughtered  by  the  Confederates  at  a  fearful  rate,  but 
it  was  through  the  persistent  stubbornness  of  a  weak 
and  ignorant  commander  and  undisciplined  troops  in 
the  garrison,  that  would  not  surrender  when  over- 
powered. Bradford  was  a  weak  and  unprincipled 
man,  and  had  negotiated  with  Forrest  in  the  name  of 
Major  Booth,  who  was  killed  early  in  the  fight.  He 
had  inspired  his  men  with  the  same  spii'it  of  knavery; 
and  had  taught  them  none  of  the  principles  of  soldiers. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  to  Jackson,  and  thence  to 
permanent  quarters.  On  the  way  to  Jackson,  Captain 
Bradford  was  found  guilty  of  violating  a  sacred  pledge 
which  he  had  made  under  the  pretext  of  going  to  bury 
a  brother.  Colonel  McCullock  had  given  him  quarters 
and  treated  him  like  a  gentleman  under  this  pledge.  He 
attempted  to  escape  during  the  night  and  go  to  Mem- 
phis. Being  recaptured,  Captain  Bradford  paid  the 
penalty  of  his  treachery  with  his  life. 

The  prisoners  captured  at  Fort  Pillow  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

THIRTEENTH  TENNESSEE  BATTALION. 

COMPANY  A. 

Sergeant  R.  C.  Gunter,  J.  Childress,  A.  J.  Knight,  J.  E.  Lemon,  J.  E. 
Howell,  G.  W.  Kirk,  T.  E.  Burton,  J.  B.  Phipps,  J.  Clark,  J.  Long,  C. 
Swinney,  D.  Burton,  J.  Minnyard,  J.  Berry,  J.  Halford,  W.  T.  Lovett,  M. 
Mitchell,  E.  Haynes,  A.  A.  Anthony,  V.  Y.  Mattheny,  J.  Moore. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  441 


COMPANY  B. 

A.  J.  Pankey,  R.  R.  McKie,  J.  H.  Scoby,  J.  Green,  A.  McKie,  W.  G.  Bowles, 

E.  Jones,  A.  J.  Crawford,  S.  Hubbs,  G.  W.  Bowles,  T-.  L.  Perry,  J.  W.  Stewart, 
D.  Floyd,  W.  P.  Flowers,  J.  A.  Baker,  J.  C.  Paulk,  C.  P.  Bowles,  W.  T.  Hooser, 
J.  Jones,  W.  Morrow,  C.  R.  Allen,  H.  Bailey,  J.  A.  Beatty,  D.  B.  Burress,  W. 
J.  Miflin,  J.  Burrus,  W.  Woodward,  A.  H.  Barrom. 

COMPANY  C. 

Lieutenant  N.  D.  Logan,  H.  Corning,  W.  L.  Tate,  N.  G.  Henderson,  T. 
Wheeless,  E.  Scarborough,  J.  Bynum,  S.  Read,  J.  Clarke,  D.  Myers,  W.  Staf- 
ford, A.  McGhee,  F.  E.  Neeham,  J.  A.  Smith,  J.  Hann,  J.  Presley,  M.  Day,  D. 

F.  Hood,  F.  M.  Gammon,  J.  Jones,  L.  Hohoer,  G.  L:  Ellis,  J.  H.  Webb,  H. 
C.  Moore,  W.  H.  Bolls,  A.  J.  Rice,  William  Ryder,  J.  Norman,  J.  Southerland, 
A.  Middleton,  H.  S.  Morris,  J.  M.  Tidwell,  J.  M.  Knuckles,  C.  Oxford. 

COMPANY  D. 

C.  D.  Alexander,  S.  E.  Kirk,  B.  J.  Kirk,  F.  D.  Tidwell,  William  Hancock, 
John  Taylor,  J.  W.  Brown,  T.  Woods,  B.  Johnson,  J.  Wilsou,  W.  R.  Johnson, 
J.  Moer,  M.  Harper,  E.  E.  Stewart,  B.  F.  Ellison,  T.  P.  Paschal,  J.  M.  Wilson, 
J.  W.  Gibson,  P.  S.  Alexander,  B.  W.  King,  J.  Rumage,  J.  C.  Green. 

COMPANY  E. 

Captain  J.  L.  Poston,  J.  Smith,  J.  T.  Cockran,  A.  J.  Hall,  E.  Childress,  J.  A. 
Brown,  W.  G.  Poston,  O.  B.  Goodman,  S.  N.  Scarberry,  N.  C.  Cleek,  J.  Cozart, 
W.  Hincs,  J.  W.  Atwine,  C.  Ellis,  A.  J.  Madlin,  A.  Carr,  J.  F.  Stamp,  R. 
Richardson,  J.  A.  Haynes,  J.  M.  Smith,  T.  J.  McMurray,  J.  F.  Rolf,  J.  Shoe- 
mate,  Henry  Clay,  J.  Arnold,  R.  Williams,  A.  J.  Sutton,  A.^Lewis,  J.  H. 
Scarboro,  T.  A.  Lunsford,  W.  J.  Scarberry,  J.  Hodge,  H.  Jones,  W.  H.  Henley, 
H.  L.  Brogden,  M.  E.  Beard,  F.  Dowling. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Lieutenant  P.  H.  McBride,  Johnson's  escort ;  Lieutenant  A.  M.  Hunter, 
Second  U.  S.  Light  Artillery ;  Captain  J.  F.  Young,  Company  A,  Twenty- 
fourth  Missouri  Infantry;  W.  H.  Gibson,  S.  T.  Gibson,  J.  W.  Autring,  Will- 
iam Boyer,  R.  C.  Price,  and  S.  M.  Price,  Steagall's  Home  Guards ;  R.  B. 
Springer,  Company  L,  Second  Iowa  Cavalry ;  C.  E.  Pratt,  Company  A,  First 
U.  S., Regular  Artillery;  H.  W.  Holloway,  Company  B,  Second  Illinois 
Cavalry ;  A.  Baker,  Company  I,  Fifty-second  Indiana  Infantry ;  R.  Mullins, 
Company  A,  Seventh  Tennessee  Cavalry  ;  R.  H.  Stewart,  Company  C,  Seventh 
Tennessee  Cavalry ;  W.  M.  Crews,  Company  D,  Seventh  Tennessee  Cavalry  : 
W.  H.  Snow,  Company  M,  Seventh  Tennessee  Cavalry;  J.  K.  Taylor,  Com- 
pany E,  Sixth  Tennessee  Cavalry  ;  T.  C.  George,  Company  — ,  Seventh  Kansas 
Cavalry. 


442 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 


SIXTH  U.  S.  HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 

(Colored  Troops.) 
COMPANY  A. 

Captain  C.  J.  Eppeneiter,  Lieutenant  P.  Bishop,  Sergeant  J.  Hennissy,  A.  J. 
Hatfield,  J.  Thompson,  Frank  Hooper,  Tom  Norris,  Anthony  Flowers,  Bill 
Smith,  Oliver  Jones,  Henry  Smith,  Jenkins  Rice,  Bill  Ward,  Monk  Moores, 
Cog  Horton,  Edmond  Trice,  Peter  Williams,  Charlie  Williams,  Dave  Manley, 
Ray  McGhee,  Braxton  Kirkman,  Wilson  Johnson,  Bill  Oats,  Solomon  Patrick, 
Henderson  Johnson,  John  Gentry,  Sandy  Worsham,  Wilson  Crenshaw,  Jim 
McCauley,  Albert  Ingram,  Jefferson  Dobbs,  Spott  Clayton,  Harry  Hill,  Will- 
iam Gray,  Jim  Danbridge,  Dan  Newburn,  Dave  Oats,  Frank  Browdeu,  Tom 
Palmer,  Aaron  Bradly,  David  Oats,  Henr^  Smith,  Wilson  Peyton,  David 
Johnson,  Jacob  Lumpkin,  Moses  Wiseman,  Lewis  Van  Eagle,  John  McHainey, 
Jim  Murrell,  Jim  Flowers,  Sam  Baugh,  Dick  Sallee,  Hiram  Lumpkin,  Jim 
Pride,  John  Henry  Harper,  David  Flowers. 

RECAPITULATION— Prisoners. 


REGIMENTS. 

Officers. 

Men. 

Total. 

Sixth  U.  S.  Heavy  Artillery  (colored)  

2 

54 

56 

1 

1 

Thirteenth  Tennessee  Battalion  

3 

148 

151 

Second  U.  S.  Light  Artillery                 

1 

1 

2 

First  U.  S.  Regular  Artillery  

1 

1 

1 

1 

Steagall's  Home  Guards  

6 

6 

Second  Illinois  Cavalry  

1 

1 

1 

1 

Seventh  Tennessee  Cavalry  

4 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Total  

7 

219 

226 

After  the  battle  of  Fort  Pillow,  various  movements 
were  made  by  the  cavalry,  in  which  different  detach- 
ments were  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  various  points. 
During  the  month  of  May,  Forrest  devoted  himself 
principally  to  gathering  up  recruits  and  horses,  and  in 
every  available  manner  strengthening  his  command  to 
the  highest  possible  standard  of  efficiency.  Meanwhile 
his  head-quarters  were  at  Tupelo.  At  this  point  he 
formed  his  artillery  into  a  battalion  and  placed  it  under 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  443 

command  of  Captain  J.  W.  Morton,  chief  of  artillery. 
This  battalion  numbered  batteries  of  four  guns  each, 
officered  as  follows: 

First  battery,  Morton's,  four  guns;  second  batteryr 
Thrall's,  four  guns;  third  battery,  Rice's,  four  guns; 
fourth  battery,  Walton's,  four  guns. 

His  other  troops  consisted  of  twenty  regiments,  four 
battalions,  and  five  independent  companies.  These 
troops  were  distributed  with  a  view  to  convenience  of 
forage  and  so  as  to  be  available  in  case  of  urgent  need. 
Chalmers's  division  was  stationed  at  Verona  and  Gre- 
nada. Another  detachment  was  placed  at  Panola,  and 
the  Mississippi  State  troops  and  Buford's  division 
were  stationed  at  Tupelo. 

An  expedition  was  organized  to  operate  in  North 
Alabama  to  the  relief  of  General  Roddy,  who  was 
being  pressed  by  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  Forrest 
now  resolved  to  effect  a  junction  with  Roddy,  and  sent 
him  a  notice  to  that  effect.  About  the  time  of  its  con- 
summation, a  heavy  force  of  Federals  were  moving 
out  from  Memphis  and  threatening  Northern  Missis- 
sippi. When  this  fact  was  ascertained,  the  expedition 
was  recalled  by  Major-general  Lee,  and,  on  June  5,  For- 
rest resumed  his  head-quarters  at  Tupelo.  Matters 
were  lively  in  Northern  Mississippi.  The  enemy 
moved  in  the  direction  of  the  Memphis  and  Charles- 
ton Railroad,  and  the  cavalry  force  was  being  rapidly 
concentrated  at  Baldwin,  to  which  point  Lee  and  For- 
rest started  out  on  June  7,  and  arrived  there  on  the  8th. 
The  enemy  was  now  at  Ruckerville,  and  preparing  to 
cross  the  Hatchie  River.  Subsequent  information  de- 
veloped the  fact  that  the  enemy  contemplated  a  move- 
ment upon  Guntown  by  way  of  Ripley.  Forrest  was 
active  in  his  maneuvering  with  the  intention  of  giving 


444  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

the  enemy  battle.  His  force  at  his  immediate  disposal 
were  three  brigades,  commanded  respectively  by  brig- 
adier-generals Lyon,  Rucker,  and  Johnson.  Lyon's 
brigade  was  composed  of  the  Third  Kentucky,  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel G.  A.  C.  Holt  commanding;  Seventh 
Kentucky,  Major  H.  S.  Hale  commanding;  Eighth 
Kentucky,  Captain  R.  H.  Fristoe  commanding;  Faulk- 
ner's Kentucky  Regiment,  T.  S.  Tate  commanding. 
Rucker's  brigade  was  composed  of  the  Eighth  Missis- 
sippi, Lieutenant-colonel  A.  H.  Chalmers;  Nineteenth 
Mississippi,  Colonel  W.  L.  Duff;  Seventh  Tennessee, 
Colonel  W.  L.  Duckworth.  Johnson's  brigade  was 
composed  of  the  Fourth  Alabama,  Lieutenant-colonel 
Windes;  Moreland's  battalion,  Major  George;  War- 
ren's battalion,  Captain  W.  H.  Warren;  Ferrell's  bat- 
tery, four  guns. 

With  this  force  Forrest  encountered  the  enemy  at 
Brice's  Cross  Roads,  in  the  vicinity  of  Guntown,  near 
the  waters  of  Tishomingo  Creek,  on  June  10,  1864. 
The  forces  of  the  enemy  amounted  to  over  nine  thou- 
sand men,  composed  of  two  cavalry  brigades  com- 
manded respectively  by  Brigadier-generals  Warren  and 
Winslow,  and  numbered  three  thousand  men.  The  in- 
fantry brigades  of  Wilkins  and  Hayes,  composed  of 
white  troops,  and  Benton's  brigade  of  colored  troops, 
six  thousand  strong.  The  battle  was  fierce  and  des- 
perate, and  resulted  in  a  complete  victory  for  the  Con- 
federates. The  colored  troops  were  possessed  of  an 
idea  that  no  quarter  would  be  granted  them,  and  when 
defeated  refused  to  surrender,  and  sought  safety  in 
flight.  The  Confederates  pursuing  commanded  them 
to  halt,  but  the  negroes,  disregarding  the  commands  of 
their  pursuers,  continued  their  flight,  and  were  shot 
at  their  very  heels.  Whether  this  unfortunate  idea  was 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  445 

inculcated  into  the  minds  of  the  negro  troops  by  their 
officers  to  strengthen  their  courage  and  efficiency  in 
action,  or  was  the  result  of  parleys  and  interchanged 
threats  between  themselves  and  the  non-combatants 
before  the  battle  of  Fort  Pillow,  is  not  definitely  known, 
From  whatever  source  it  emanated  its  results  were  de- 
plorable. As  at  Fort  Pillow,  the  negroes  acted  with  a 
dogged  and  reckless  obstinacy  having  no  relationship 
to  courage,  but  partaking  more  of  the  nature  of  ani- 
mals that  were  hemmed  and  refused  to  be  caught.  The 
Confederates  expected  no  quarter  at  the  hands  of  the 
colored  troops.  As  a  consequence,  when  the  Con- 
federates gained  a  complete  victory  and  had  captured 
several  of  the  enemy's  guns  and  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners,  the  colored  troops  hurdled  in  gangs  and  were 
shot  down  before  the  Confederates,  who  demanded 
their  surrender,  and  would  have  much  preferred  their 
surrender  to  their  destruction. 

Previous  to  the  departure  of  the  Federals  from  Mem- 
phis the  colored  troops  had  taken  an  oath  before  Gen- 
eral Hurlburt  to  avenge  Fort  Pillow,  and  show  the 
Confederates  no  quarter.  General  Forrest  having  been 
apprised  of  this  fact  addressed  the  following  note  to 
the  Federal  commander  at  Memphis: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FORREST'S  CAVALRY,/ 

IN  THE  FIELD,  June  14,  1864.     f 

General: — It  has  been  reported  to  me  that  all  jour  colored 
troops,  stationed  at  Memphis,  took  an  oath  on  their  knees 
in  the  presence  of  Major-general  Hurlburt  and  others  of 
your  command  to  avenge  Fort  Pillow,  and  that  they  would 
show  my  troops  no  quarter.  Again,  I  have  it  from  indis- 
putable authority,  that  the  troops  under  Brigadier  -  general 
Sturgis,  on  their  recent  march  from  Memphis,  publicly, 
and  in  many  places,  proclaimed  that  no  quarter  would  be 
shown  my  men.  As  they  were  moved  into  action  on  the  icth, 


446  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

they  were  exhorted  by  their  officers  to  remember  Fort  Pillow. 
The  prisoners  we  have  captured  from  that  command,  or  a  large 
majority  of  them,  have  voluntarily  stated  that  they  expected  us 
to  murder  them;  otherwise,  they  would  have  surrendered  in  a 
body  rather  than  taken  to  the  bushes  after  being  run  down  and 
exhausted.  The  recent  battle  of  Tishomingo  Creek  was  far 
more  bloody  than  it  would  otherwise  have  been  but  for  the  fact 
that  your  men  evidently  expected  to  be  slaughtered  when  cap- 
tured, and  both  sides  acted  as  though  neither  felt  safe  in  surren- 
dering even  when  further  resistance  was  useless.  The  prisoners 
captured  by  us  say  they  felt  condemned  by  the  announcements, 
etc.,  of  their  own  commanders,  and  expected  no  quarter. 

In  all  my  operations  since  it  began  I  have  conducted  the  war 
on  civilized  principles,  and  desire  still  to  do  so;  but  it  is  due  to 
my  command  that  they  should  know  the  position  they  occupy 
and  the  policy  you  intend  to  pursue.  I  therefore  respectfully  ask 
whether  my  men,  now  in  your  hands,  are  treated  as  other  Con- 
federate prisoners  of  war;  also  the  course  intended  to  be  pur- 
sued in  regard  to  those  who  may  hereafter  fall  into  your  hands. 

I  have  in  my  possession  quite  a  number  of  wounded  officers 
and  men  of  General  Sturgis's  command,  all  of  whom  have  been 
treated  as  well  as  we  were  able  to  treat  them,  and  are  mostly  in 
charge  of  a  surgeon  left  at  Ripley  by  General  Sturgis  to  look 
after  the  wounded.  Some  of  them  are  too  severely  wounded  to 
be  removed  at  present.  I  am  willing  to  exchange  them  for  any 
men  of  my  command  you  have,  and,  as  soon  as  able  to  be  re- 
moved, will  give  them  safe  escort  through  our  lines  in  charge  of 
the  surgeon  left  with  them.  I  made  such  an  arrangement  once 
with  Major-general  Hurlburt,  and  am  willing  to  renew  it,  pro- 
vided it  is  desired,  as  it  would  be  better  than  to  subject  them  to 
the  long  and  fatiguing  trip  necessary  to  a  regular  exchange  at 
City  Point,  Va. 

I  am.  General,  etc.,  N.  B.  FORREST,  Major-general. 

To  this  General  Washburn  replied  as  follows: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  DISTRICT  OF  WEST  TENNESSEE,) 
MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  June  19,  1864.     ) 

Major-general  N.  B.  FORREST,  Commanding  Confederate  forces: 

General: — Your  communication  of  the  loth  inst.  is  received. 
The  letter  to  Brigadier-general  Buford  will  be  forwarded  to  him. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  447 

In  regard  td  that  part  of  jour  letter  which  relates  to  colored 
troops,  I  beg  to  say  that  I  have  already  sent  a  communication  on 
the  same  subject  to  the  officers  in  command  of  the  Confederate 
forces  at  Tupelo.  Having  understood  that  Major-general  S.  D. 
Lee  was  in  command  there,  I  directed  my  letter  to  him.  A  copy 
of  it  I  inclose. 

You  say  in  your  letter  that  it  has  been  reported  to  you  that  all 
the  negro  troops  stationed  in  Memphis  took  an  oath  on  their 
knees,  in  the  presence  of  Major-general  Hurlburt  and  other  offi- 
cers of  our  army,  to  avenge  "  Port  Pillow,  and  that  they  would 
show  your  troops  no  quarter."  I  believe  it  is  true  that  the  col- 
ored troops  did  take  such  an  oath,  but  not  in  the  presence  of  Gen- 
eral Hurlburt.  From  what  I  can  learn,  this  act  of  theirs  was  not 
influenced  by  any  white  officer,  but  was  the  result  of  their  own 
sense  of  what  was  due  to  themselves  and  their  fellows  who  had 
been  mercilessly  slaughtered.  I  have  no  doubt  that  they  went 
into  the  field,  as  you  allege,  in  the  full  belief  that  they  would  be 
murdered  in  case  they  fell  into  your  hands.  The  affair  at  Fort 
Pillow  fully  justified  that  belief.  I  am  not  aware  as  to  what  they 
proclaimed  on  their  late  march,  and  it  may  be,  as  you  say,  that 
they  declared  that  no  quarter  would  be  given  to  any  of  your  men 
that  might  fall  into  their  hands. 

Your  declaration  that  you  have  conducted  the  war  on  all  occa- 
sions on  civilized  principles  cannot  be  accepted;  but  I  receive 
with  satisfaction  the  intimation  in  your  letter  that  the  recent 
slaughter  of  colored  troops  at  the  battle  of  Tishomingo 
Creek  resulted  rather  from  the  desperation  with  which  they 
fought  than  a  pre-determined  intention  to  give  them  no  quarter. 
You  must  have  learned  by  this  time  that  the  attempt  to  intimi- 
date the  colored  troops  by  indiscriminate  slaughter  has  sig- 
nally failed,  "and  that,  instead  of  a  feeling  of  terror,  you  have 
aroused  a  spirit  of  courage  an.d  desperation  that  will  not  down  at 
your  bidding.- 

I  am  left  in  doubt  by  your  letter  as  to  the  course  you  and  your 
government  intend  to  pursue  hereafter  in  regard  to  colored 
troops;  and  I  beg  you  to  advise  me,  with  as  little  delay  as  possi- 
ble, as  to  your  intentions.  If  you  intend  to  treat  such  of  them  as 
fall  into  your  hands  as  prisoners  of  war,  please  so  state.  If  you 
do  not  so  intend,  but  contemplate  either  their  slaughter  or  their 


448  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

return  to  slavery,  please  state  that,  so  that  we  may  have  no  mis- 
understanding hereafter.  If  the  former  is  your  intention  I  shall 
receive  the  announcement  with  pleasure,  and  shall  explain  the 
fact  to  the  colored  troops  at  onee,  and  desire  that  they  recall  the 
oath  they  have  taken.  If  the  latter  is  the  case,  then  let  the  oath 
stand,  and  upon  those  who  have  aroused  this  spirit  hy  their 
atrocities  and  upon  the  government  and  people  who  sanction  it, 
be  the  consequences. 

In  regard  to  your  inquiry  relating  to  prisoners  of  your  com- 
mand in  our  hands,  I  state  that  they  have  always  received  that 
treatment  which  a  great  humane  government  extends  to  its  pris- 
oners. What  course  will  be  pursued  hereafter  toward  them  must, 
of  course,  depend  on  circumstances  that  may  arise.  If  your 
command  hereafter  do  nothing  which  should  properly  exclude 
them  from  being  treated  as  prisoners  of  war,  they  will  be  so- 
treated. 

I  thank  you  for  your  offer  to  exchange  wounded  officers  and 
men  in  your  hands.  If  you  will  send  them  in,  I  will  exchange 
man  for  man  so  far  as  I  have  the  ability  to  do  so. 

Before  closing  this  letter,  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  one 
case  of  unparalleled  outrage  and  murder  that  has  been  brought 
to  my  notice,  and  in  regard  to  which  the  evidence  is  overwhelm- 
ing. 

Among  the  prisoners  captured  at  Fort  Pillow  was  Major  Brad- 
ford, who  had  charge  of  the  fort  after  the  fall  of  Major  Booth. 
After  being  taken  prisoner,  he  was  started  with  other  prisoners 
in  charge  of  Colonel  Duckworth,  tp  Jackson.  At  Brownsville, 
they  rested  over  night.  The  following  morning  two  companies 
were  detailed  by  Colonel  Duckworth  to  proceed  to  Jackson  with 
the  prisoners.  After  they  had  started  and  proceeded  a  short  dis- 
tance, five  soldiers  were  recalled  by  Colonel  Duckworth  and  con- 
ferred with  by  him.  They  then  rejoined  the  column,  and,  after 
proceeding  about  five  miles  from  Brownsvilhs,  the  column  halted, 
and  Major  Bradford  was  taken  about  fifty  yards  from  the  road  side 
and  deliberately  shot  by  the  five  men  who  had  been  recalled 
by  Colonel  Duckworth,  and  his  body  left  unburied  upon  the 
ground  where  he  fell.  He  now  lies  buried  near  the  spot,  and, 
if  you  desire,  you  can  easily  satisfy  yourself  of  the  truth  of 
what  I  assert. 

I  beg  leave  to  say  to  you  that  this  transaction  hardly  justi- 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  449 

fies  jour  remark  that  your  operations  have  been  conducted  on 
civilized  principles,  and  until  you  take  some  steps  to  bring  the 
perpetrators  of  this  outrage  to  justice,  the  world  will  not  fail 
to  believe  that  it  has  your  sanction.  I  am.  General,  your  obe- 
dient servant,  C.  C.  WASHBURX,  Major-general. 

Accompanying  this  document  was  this  copy  of  a 
letter  from  General  Washbtirn  to  Major-general  S.  D. 
Lee,  referred  to  in  the  above  communication.  The  let- 
ter read  as  follows: 

HEAD-qUARTHiRS   DISTRICT  OF    WEST  TENNESSEE,  1 

MEMPHIS,  TENX.,  June  17,  1864.      / 

Major-general    S.   D.    LEE,    Commanding    Confederate    forces, 
near  Tupelo,  Mississippi: 

General: — When  I  heard  that  the  forces  of  Brigadier-general 
Sturgis  had  been  driven  back  and  a  portion  of  them  probably 
captured,  I  felt  considerable  solicitude  for  the  fate  of  the  two 
colored  regiments  that  formed  a  part  of  the  command  until  I 
was  informed  that  the  Confederate  forces  were  commanded  by 
you.  When  I  heard  that,  I  became,  satisfied  that  no  atrocities 
would  be  committed  upon  those  troops,  but  that  they  would 
receive  the  treatment  which  humanity,  as  well  as  their  gallant 
conduct,  demanded.  I  regret  to  say  that  the  hope  I  entertained 
has  been  dispelled  by  facts  which  have  recently  come  to  my 
knowledge.  . 

From  statements  that  have  been  made  to  me  by  colored  sol- 
diers, who  were  eye-witnesses,  it  would  seem  that  the  massacre 
at  Fort  Pillow  had  been  reproduced  at  the  late  affair  at  Brice's 
Cross  Roads.  The  details  of  the  atrocities  there  committed  I 
will  not  trouble  you  with.  If  true,  and  not  disavowed,  they 
must  lead  to  consequences  hereafter  fearful  to  contemplate.  It 
is  best  that  we  should  now  have  a  fair  understanding  upon  the 
question  of  the  treatment  of  this  class  of  soldiers. 

If  it  is  contemplated  by  the  Confederate  government  to  mur- 
der all  colored  troops  that  may,  by  the  chances  of  war,  fall  into 
their  hands,  as  was  the  case  at  Fort  Pillow,  it  is  but  fair  that  it 
should  be  truly  and  openly  avowed.  Within  the  last  six  weeks  I 
have  on  two  occasions  sent  colored  troops  into  the  field  from  this 
29 


45°  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

point.  In  the  expectation  that  the  Confederate  government 
would  disavow  the  action  of  their  commanding  general  at  the 
Fort  Pillow  massacre,  I  have  forborne  to  issue  any  instructions 
to  the  colored  troops  as  to  the  course  they  should  pursue  toward 
Confederate  soldiers  that  might  fall  into  their  hands;  but  seeing 
no  disavowal  on  the  part  of  the  Confederate  government,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  laudations  from  the  entire  Southern  press  of  the 
perpetrators  of  the  massacre.  I  may  safely  presume  that  indis- 
criminate slaughter  is  to  be  the  fate  of  colored  troops  that  fall 
into  your  hands.  But  I  am  not  willing  to  leave  a  matter  of  such 
grave  import,  and  involving  consequences  so  fearful,  to  inference, 
and  I  have  therefore  thought  proper  to  address  you  this,  believ- 
ing that  you  would  be  able  to  indicate  the  policy  that  the  Con- 
federate government  intended  to  pursue  hereafter  on  this  ques- 
tion. If  it  is  intended  to  raise  the  black  flag  against  that  unfor- 
tunate race  they  will  cheerfully  accept  the  issue.  Up  to  this 
time  no  troops  have  fought  more  gallantly  and  none  have  con- 
ducted themselves  with  greater  propriety.  They  have  fully  vin- 
dicated their  right  (so  long  denied)  to  be  treated  as  men.  I  hope 
that  I  have  been  misinformed  in  regard  to  the  treatment  they 
have  received  at  the  battle  of  Brice's  Cross  Roads,  and  that  the 
accounts  received  result  rather  from  the  excited  imagination  of 
the  fugitives  than  from  actual  facts. 

For  the  government  of  the  colored  troops  under  my  command 
I  would  thank  you  to  inform  me,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible, 
if  it  is  your  intention  or  the  intention  of  the  Confederate  govern- 
ment to  murder  colored  soldiers  that  may  fall  into  your  hands, 
or  treat  them  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  subject  to  be  exchanged 
as  other  prisoners.  I  am,  General,  respectfully,  etc., 

C.  C.  WASHBURX,  Major-general. 

To  these  two  communications  from  the  Federal  Gen- 
eral Washburn,  General  Forrest  replied  as  follows: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FORREST'S  CAVALRY,  TUPELO,/ 

June  23,  1864.     j 
Major-general  C.  C.  WASHBURX,  Commanding  United    States 

forces,  Memphis: 

General: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  (per 
flag  of  truce)  of  your  letter  of  the  iyth  inst.,  addressed  to  Major- 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  451 

general  S.  D.  Lee,  or  officer  commanding  Confederate  forces 
at  Tupelo.  I  have  forwarded  it  to  General  Lee  with  a  copy  of 
this  letter. 

I  regard  your  letter  as  discourteous  to  the  commanding  officer 
of  this  department  and  grossly  insulting  to  myself.  You  seek, 
by  implied  threats,  to  intimidate  him,  and  assume  the  privilege  of 
denouncing  me  as  a  murderer  and  as  guilty  of  the  wholesale 
slaughter  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Pillow,  and  found  your  asser- 
tions upon  the  ex  partc  testimony  of  (your  friends)  the  enemies 
of  myself  and  country. 

I  shaM  not  enter  into  the  discussion,  therefore,  of  any  ques- 
tions involved,  nor  undertake  any  refutation  of  the  charges  made 
by  you  against  myself.  Nevertheless,  as  a  matter  of  personal 
privilege  alone,  I  unhesitatingly  say  that  they  are  unfounded  and 
unwarranted  by  the  facts.  But  whether  these  charges  are  true 
or  false,  they,  with  the  questions  you  ask,  as  to  whether  negro 
troops,  when  captured,  will  be  recognized  and  treated  as  prison- 
ers of  war,  subject  to  exchange,  etc.,  are  matters  which  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  and  the  Confederates  States  are  to 
decide  and  adjust — not  their  subordinate  officers.  I  regard  cap- 
tured negroes  as  I  do  other  captured  property,  and  not  as  cap- 
tured soldiers;  but  as  to  how  regarded  by  my  government,  and 
the  disposition  which  has  been  and  will  hereafter  be  made  of 
them,  I  respectfully  refer  you,  through  the  proper  channel,  to  the 
authorities  at  Richmond. 

It  is  not  the  policy  or  the  interest  of  the  South  to  destroy  the 
negro;  on  the  contrary,  to  preserve  and  protect  him;  and  all  who 
have  surrendered  to  us  have  received  kind  and  humane  treatment. 

Since  the  war  began,  I  have  captured  many  thousand  Federal 
prisoners,  and  they,  including  the  survivors  of  the  "  Fort  Pillow 
Massacre,"' black  and  white,  are  living  witnesses  of  the  fact  that, 
with  knowledge  or  consent  or  by  my  orders,  not  one  of  them  has 
ever  been  insulted  or  maltreated  in  any  way. 

You  speak  of  your  forbearance  in  "  not  giving  instructions  and 
orders  as  to  the  course  they  should  pursue  in  regard  to  Confed- 
erate soldiers  that  might  fall  into  (your)  their  hands,"  which 
clearly  conveys  to  my  mind  two  very  distinct  impressions.  The 
first  is,  that  in  not  giving  them  instructions  and  orders,  you  have 
left  the  matter  entirely  to  the  discretion  of  the  negroes  as  to  how 
they  should  dispose  of  prisoners;  second,  an  implied  threat  to 


45 2  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

give  such  orders  as  will  lead  to  "  consequences  too  fearful  "  for 
contemplation.  In  confirmation  of  the  correctness  of  the  first 
impression  (which  jour  language  now  fully  develops),  I  refer  you,, 
most  respectfully,  to  my  letter  from  the  battle-field  of  Tisho- 
mingo  Creek,  and  forwarded  to  you  by  flag  of  truce  on  the  i4th 
inst.  As  to  the  second  impression,  you  seem  disposed  to  take 
into  your  hands  the  settlement  which  belongs  to,  and  can  only  be 
settled  by,  your  government.  But  if  you  are  prepared  to  take 
upon  yourself  the  responsibility  of  inaugurating  a  system  of  war- 
fare contrary  to  civilized  usages,  the  onus,  as  well  as  the  conse- 
quences, will  be  chargeable  to  yourself. 

Deprecating,  as  I  should  do,  such  a  state  of  affairs,  determined 
as  I  am  not  to  be  instrumental  in  bringing  it  about,  feeling  and 
knowing  as  I  do  that  I  have  the  approval  of  my  government,  my 
people,  and  my  own  conscience,  as  to  the  past,  and  with  the  firm 
belief  that  I  will  be  sustained  by  them  in  my  future  policy,  it  is 
left  for  you  to  determine  what  that  policy  shall  be — whether  in 
accordance  wijh  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare  or  in  violation  of 
them.  Very  respectfully,  etc.,  N.  B.  FORREST, 

Major-general. 

After  Forrest's  brilliant  victory  at  Tishomingo  Creek, 
the  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  were  rapidly  on  the 
wane.  The  Federal  General  Wilson  was  organizing  a 
heavy  cavalry  force  for  the  purpose  of  striking  Selma 
and  Mobile.  Forrest  found  his  forces  inadequate  to 
the  task  of  resisting  its  progress.  He  met  the  enemy 
and  disputed  every  inch  of  ground.  Finding  further 
resistance  useless,  he  surrendered  his  command  to  the 
Federal  authorities,  near  Selma,  in  the  spring  of  1865. 
The  other  armies  of  the  Confederacy  had  surrendered. 
Forrest  issued  an  address  to  his  men,  recounting  their 
noble  deeds  while  under  his  command,  and  exhorting 
them,  now  that  further  resistance  was  useless,  to  accept 
the  situation  in  good  faith,  and  make  as  good  citizens 
as  they  had  made  soldiers. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  453 

REORGANIZATION  OF  FORREST'S 
CAVALRY. 

Lieutenant-general  N.  B.  FORREST  Commanding. 

^Commissioned  Brigadier-general,  July  21,  1862;  Major-general,  December  4, 
1863;  Lieutenant-general,  March  2,  1865.] 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 

John  P.  Strange,  Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
Charles  W.  Anderson,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
William  M.  Forrest,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
Samuel  Donelson,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
C.  S.  Severson,  Major  and  Chief  Quartermaster. 
R.  M.  Mason,  Major  and  Chief  Quartermaster. 
G.  V.  Bambaut,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 
George  Dashiel,  Captain  and  Chief  Paymaster. 
Dr.  J.  B.  Cowan,  Chief  Surgeon. 

Charles  S.  Hill,  Captain  and  Chief  Ordnance  Officer. 
John  G.  Mann,  Captain  and  Chief  of  Engineers. 

CHALMERS'S  DIVISION. 

Brigadier-general    JAMES    R.    CHALMERS   Commanding. 
[Commissioned  Brigadier-general  February  13, 1862.] 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 

Walter  A.  Goodman,  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
L.  T.  Lindsey,  Captain  and  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
Andrew  J.  Mills,  Captain  and  Acting  Assistant  Inspector-general. 
George  T.  Banks,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
Samuel  O'Neill,  Captain  and  Chief  Quartermaster. 
William  F.  Avent,  Captain  and  A.  Q.  M.  Pay  Department. 
John  T.  Buck,  First  Lieutenant  and  Chief  Ordnance  Officer. 
B.  S.  Crump,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 
Dr.  James  R.  Barnett,  Chief  Surgeon. 

BUFORD'S  DIVISION. 

Brigadier-general  ABE  BUFOED  Commanding. 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 

Hunter  Nicholson,  Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
Thomas  M.  Crowder,  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
D.  A.  Given,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
D.  E.  Myers,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 
James  L.  Lea,  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
J.  B.  Finch,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 
John  D.  Gardner,  First  Lieutenant  and  Chief  of  Ordnance. 
Thomas  F.  Clardy,  M.D.,  Chief  Surgeon. 
William  M.  Cargill,  Major  and  A.  Q.  M.  Pay  Department. 


454  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

JACKSON'S    DIVISION. 

Brigadier-general  WILLIAM    H.  JACKSON  Coin  man  ding. 
STAFF  OFFICERS. 

E.  T.  Sykes,  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

James  C.  Jones,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

T.  B.  Sykes,  Captain  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 

J.  H.  Martin,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 

W.  P.  Paul,  Major  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

A.  P.  Slover,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 

Dr.  Arthur  Bragden,  Chief  Surgeon. 

Dr.  G.  A.  Hogg,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Lewis  Bond,  Captain  and  Chief  of  Ordnance. 

John  Waties,  Captain  and  Chief  of  Artillery. 

William  Ewing,  Drill  Master. 

BELL'S  BRIGADE  OF  BUFORD'S    DIVISION. 

Brigadier-general  TYRKK  H.  BELL  Commanding. 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 

R.  D.  Clark,  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
T.  E.  Richardson,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
J.  L.  Bell,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 
P.  A.  Smith,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 
I.  T.  Bell,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
T.  P.  Allison,  Major  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
J.  L.  Lea,  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
D.  M.  Womack,  Captain  and  Chief  Commissar}'. 
A.  G.  Harris,  First  Lieutenant  and  Brigade  Commissary. 
C.  C.  Harris,  First  Lieutenant  and  Ordnance  Officer. 

THOMPSON'S*  BRIGADE,  BUFORD'S 
DIVISION. 

Colonel  ED.  CROSSLAND  Commanding. 
STAFF  OFFICERS. 

C.  L.  Randle,  CajTtain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 

J.  P.  Mathewsoo,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 

William  Lindsey,  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

J.  R.  Smith,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 

Robert  A.  Galbraith,  Captain  and  Aid-dc-camp. 

F.  G.  Terry,  Captain  and  Ordnance  Officer. 

*  Col.  A.  P.  Thompson,  former  Commander  of  this  lirigade,  was  killed  while 
leading  an  attack  upon  the  Federals  at  Paducah. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  455 


FIRST    BRIGADE,    CHALMERS'S    DIVISION. 

Colonel  EGBERT  MCCULLOCK  Commanding. 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 

John  T.  Chandler,  Captain   and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
W.  .1.  Vankirk,  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
J.  M.  Tyler,  First  Lieutenant  and  Acting  Inspector-general. 
J.  J.  (riiyton,  Captain  and  Chief  Commissary. 
T.  M.  Turner,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
J.  J.  Hay,  Second   Lieutenant  and  Ordnance  Officer. 
Dr.  F.  R.   Durrett,  Chief  Surgeon. 

RUCKER'S  BRIGADE,  CHALMERS'S 
DIVISION. 

Colonel   E.  W.  RUCKER  Commanding. 

STA  FF  OFFICERS. 

John  T.  Chandler,  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
Ferdinand  Smith,  Captain  and  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
John  Overton,  jr.,  Captain  and  Assistant  Inspector-general. 
F.  B.  Rodgers,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
William  O.  Key,  Major  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
R.  M.  Ligou,  Captain  and  Chid'  Commissary. 
Dr.  C.  K.  Caruthers,  Chief  Surgeon. 
C.  N.  Featherston,  Second  Lieutenant  and  Ordnance  Officer. 

NEELEY'S  BRIGADE,  CHALMERS'S 
DIVISION. 

Colonel  J.  J.  NKEIA"  Commanding. 

STAFF  OFFICIOUS. 

V.  B,    Waddrli,  First  Lieutenant  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
Edward  Reneau,  Second  Lieutenant  and  Acting  Inspector-general. 
M.  K.  Mister,  Second  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-camp. 
William  O.  Key,  Major  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 
S.  J.  Alexander,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 
Dr.  C.  K.  Caruthers,  Chief  Surgeon. 

CAMPBELL'S  BRIGADE,  JACKSON'S 
DIVISION. 


W.  CAMPBELL  Commanding. 
[Commissioned  Brigadier-general  May  1,  1864.] 

STAFF  OFFICKKS. 

Ferdinand  Stilh,*  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant-general. 
John  Overton,  jr.,*  Captain  and  Inspector-general. 

*  Transferred  from  Rucker's  Brigade. 


456 


FORREST'S  CAVALR\. 


William  R.  Harris,  First  Lieutenant  and  Aid-de-cami>. 

A.  Warren,  Major  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

W.  J.  Sykes,  Major  and  Chief  Commissary. 

C.  N.  Featherston,*  Second  Lieutenant  and  Ordnance  Officer. 


ARTILLERY  OF  FORREST'S  COMMAND. 
MAY,  1864. 

MORTON'S  BATTERY. 

(Four  Guns.) 

John  W.  Morton.  Captain.  Joseph  M.  Mayson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  S.  Sale,  First  Lieutenant.  Dr.  James  P.  Hanner,  Surgeon. 

G.  T.  Brown,  First  Lieutenant. 

RICE'S  BATTERY. 

(Four  Guns.) 
T.  W.  Rice,  Captain.  Dan.  C.  Jones,  Second  Lieutenant. 

B.  F.  Haller,  First  Lieutenant.  Dr.  Jacob  Huggins,  jr.,  Surgeon. 
H.  H.  Biggs,  Second  Lieutenant. 

HUDSON'S  BATTERY. 

(Four  Guns.    Originally  known  as  Walton's  Battery.) 
E.  S.  Walton,  Captain.  W.  O.  Hunter,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Milt.  H.  Frautham,  First  Lieu  tenant.    R.  P.  Weaver,  Surgeon. 
G.  C.  Wright,  Second  Lieutenant. 

THRALL'S  BATTERY. 

(Four  Guns.) 

J.  C.  Thrall,  Captain.  W.  J.  D.  Winton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  S.  Anderson,  First  Lieutenant.          Dr.  J.  L.  Grace,  Surgeon. 
J.  C.  Barlow,  Second  Lieutenant. 

SECOND  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

C.  R.  Barteau,  Colonel.  Dr.  J.  W.  Harrison,  Assist.  Surgeon. 
G.  H.  Morton,  Lieutenant-colonel.  E.  O.  Elliott,  Quartermaster. 
William  Parrish,  Major.  P.  A.  Smith,  First  Lieut,  and  Adj't. 
Dr.  J.  M.  Hughes,  Surgeon.  Rev.  S.  C.  Talley,  Chaplain. 

COMPANY  A. 
T.  C.  Atkinson,  First  Lieutenant.          A.  H.  French,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

T.  B.  Underwood,  Captain.  S.  B.  Wall,  Second  Lieutenant. 

G.  W.  Smithson,  First  Lieutenant.        J.  D.  Core,  Third  Lieutenant. 

*  Transferred  from  Rucker's  Brigade. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  457 

COMPANY  C. 

M.  W.  McKnight,  Captain.  Samuel  Dennis,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  L.  W.  Turney,  First  Lieutenant.      J.  S.  Harrison,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

William  T.  Rickman,  Captain.  F.  W.  Youree,  Second  Lieutenant. 

•George  Love,  First  Lieutenant.  Ed.  Bullock,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

W.  A.  DeBow,  Captain.  -  R.  B.  Dobbins,  Second  Lieutenant. 

•George  E.  Seay,  First  Lieutenant.          F.  J.  Carman,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

John  A.  Binkley,  Captain.  John  E.  Demming,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  F.  Austin,  First  Lieutenant.       Newson  Penell,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

J.  M.  Eustis,  Captain.  A.  W.  Lipscomb,  Second  Lieutenant. 

B.  G.  Moore,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  J.  Laurence,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY   H. 

B.  Edwards,  Captain.  E.  Lassater,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  Bedford,  First  Lieutenant.    -  T.  L.  Stubblefleld,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

.S.  W.  Reeves,  Captain.  J.  H.  Bettick,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Lattimer,  First  Lieutenant.     W.  C.  Roberts,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

•O.  B.  Farris,  Captain.  F.  M.  McRoe,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  H.  Neal,  First  Lieutenant.  H.  Pryor,  Third  Lieutenant. 

FOURTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

James  H.  Starnes,  Colonel.  Dr.  Allen  E.  Gooch,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

P.  C.  Haynes,  Lieutenant-colonel.  Joseph  B.  Briggs,  Quartermaster. 

P.  T.  Rankin,  Major.  Moses  H.  Cliff,  Commissary. 

William  H.  Davis,  Adjutant.  Rev.  William  H.  Whitsit,  Chaplain. 
Dr.  Edward  Swanson,  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  A. 

Aaron  Thompson,  Captain.  B.  F.  Boyd,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  C.  Candiff,  First  Lieutenant.      S.  S.  Short,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

J.  B.  Britton,  Captain.  E.  L.  Collier,  Second  Lieutenant. 

O.  C.  Rutherford,  First  Lieutenant.       S.  T.  Bass,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

E.  L.  Lindsey,  Captain.  C.  C.  Hancock,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  E.  Donnell,  First  Lieutenant.  D.  W.  Grandstaff,  Third  Lieutenant. 


458 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 


COMPANY  D. 

A.  A.  Dysart,  Captain.  F.  M.  Webb,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  M.  Robinson,  First  Lieutenant.        John  Carpenter,  Thinl  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

G.  W.  Robinson,  Captain.  W.  A.  Hubbard,  Second  1-iriitriiant. 

W.  F.  White,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  W.  Norton,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

W.  S.  McLemore,  Captain.  .        S.  S.  Hughes,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  T.  Pierce,  First  Lieutenant.  S.  C.  Tulloss,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

Andrew  McGregor,  Captain.  John  H.  Dice,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  J.  Duffey,  First  Lieutenant.  E.  W.  Burwell,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

J.  E.  Teague,  Captain.  C.  G.  Pryor,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  W.  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  M.  Ragen,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

P.  H.  McBride,  Captain.  G.  L.  Freeman,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  A.  Smotherman,  First  Lieutenant.     T.  W.  Lewis,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

Francisco  Rice,  Captain.  W.  E.  Baker,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  B.  Poston,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  A.  Young,  Third  Lieutenant. 

SEVENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

William  L.  Duckworth,  Colonel.  Kenneth  Garrett,  Quartermaster. 

Wm.  F.  Taylor,  Lieutenant-colonel.      Dr.  J.  C.  Word,  Surgeon. 
C.  C.  Clay,  Major.  Rev.  W.  L.  Rosser,  Chaplain. 

Wm.  S.  Pope,  Lieut,  and  Adj't. 

COMPANY  A. 

J.  W.  Sneed,  Captain.  W.  L.  Certain,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  W.  Watkins,  First  Lieutenant.          J.  D.  Mitchell,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

J.  P.  Russell,  Captain.  J.  N.  Stinson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  T.  Sale,  First  Lieutenant.  Robert  J.  Black,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

John  T.  Lawler,  Captain.  S.  B.  Higgins,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  B.  Winston,  First  Lieutenant.          A.  L.  Winston,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

L.  W.  Taliaferro,  Captain.  T.  J.  Mann,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  J.  Livingstone,  First  Lieutenant.      A.  A.  Johnson,  Third  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  459 

COMPANY  E. 

W.  J.  Tate,  Captain.  H.  Harris,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Statler,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  C.  Mashburn,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 
C.  H.  Jones,  Captain  (consolidated  with  Company  E). 

COMPANY  G. 

F.  F.  Aden,  Captain.  W.  N.  Griffin,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  J.  Blake,  First  Lieutenant.  James  T.  Haynes,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 
H.  C.  McCutcheon,  Captain.  J.  A.  Jenkins,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

J.  R.  Alexander,  Captain.  P.  A.  Fisher,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  P.  Malone,  First  Lieutenant.  E.  M.  Downing,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

J.  A.  Anderson,  Captain.  John  Trout,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  S.  Hille,  First  Lieutenant.  E.  K.  Scruggs,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  L. 

Alexander  Duckworth,  Captain.  Frank  Pugh,  Second  Lieutenant. 
,  First  Lieutenant.        Wm.  Witherspoon,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  M. 

Benjamin  T.  Davis,  Captain.  Charles  Rice,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Moore,  First  Lieutenant.          J.  L.  Livingstone,  Third  Lieutenant. 

EIGHTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

George  G.  Dibrell,  Colonel.  A.  C.  Dale,  Quartermaster. 

F.  H.  Dougherty,  Lieutenant-colonel.    J  N.  Bailey,  Commissary. 
Jeffery  E.  Forrest,  Major.  Dr.  William  C.  McCord,  Surgeon. 

M.  D.  Smallman,  Lieut,  and  Adj't.        Dr.  J.  Luke  Ridley,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  A. 

W.  W.  Windle,  Captain.  A.  L.  Windle,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

Hamilton  McGuinnis,  Captain.  Allen  G.  Parker,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  C.  Webb,  First  Lieutenant.       Levi  Maynard,  Third  Lieutenant. 

< OMI'ANY  C. 

Isaac  G.  Woolsey,  Captain.  J.  W.  Pendergrass,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  C.  Wood,  First  Lieutenant.      Jackson  Davis,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

Jefferson  Left-witch,  Captain.  William  R.  Hill,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  W.  Revis,  First  Lieutenant.        Wayman  Dibrell,  Third  Lieutenant. 


•460  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  E. 

William  P.  Chapin,  First  Lieutenant.    Lloyd  W.  Chapin,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Jesse  Allen,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

Josiah  Bilberry,  Captain.                         Thomas  H.  Webb,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Jefferson  Bilberry,  First  Lieutenant.    Herner,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

Mounce  L.  Gore,  Captain.  Newton  Byber,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Z.  Beck,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

James  Barnes,  Captain.  John  S.  Khea,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  Hill.  First  Lieutenant.  Joseph  D.  Bartlett,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

James  W.  McReynolds  Captain.  Simon  D.  Wallace,  Third  Lieutenant. 

James  Walker,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

Bryan  M.  Swearingin,  Captain.  Elijah  W.  Terry,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Jesse  Beck,  First  Lieutenant. 

NINTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

J.  B.  Biffle,  Colonel.  William  M.  Irwin,  Quartermaster. 

A.  G.  Cooper,  Lieutenant-colonel.          W.  S.  Johnston,  Commissary. 
Roderick  Perry,  Lieut,  and  Adj't.          Dr.  Henry  Long,  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  A. 

J.  J.  Biffle,  Captain.  G.  Wells,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  W.  Hill,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 
James  Reynolds  Captain.  Littleton,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

C.  F.  Barnes,  Captain.  P.  Brownlaw,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Helmick,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

Lewis  M.  Kirk,  Captain.  May,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

G.  J.  Adkinson,  Captain.  P.  Pigg,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  Leftwitch,  First  Lieutenant.        P.  Nichols,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

J.  W.  Johnson,  Captain.  B.  S.  Hardin,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Montague,  First  Lieutenant.         John  Johnson,  Third  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  461 

COMPANY  G. 
John  S.  Groves,  Captain.  Robert  Harris,  Second  Lieutenant. 

D.  B.  Cooper,  First  Lieutenant  Jacob  Armstrong,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

Thomas  H.  Beatty,  Captain.  J.  Davis,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Denton  Pennington,  First  Lieut.  M.  D.  Cooper,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 
Frank  Smith,  Captain.  B.  F.  Burkitt,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

R.  L.  Ford,  Captain.  John  Hicks,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Hargroves,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  L. 

Robert  Sharp,  Captain.  Robert  Clarke,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Edward  Cannon,  First  Lieutenant. 

TENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
N.  N.  Cox,  Colonel.  D.  H.  White,  Quartermaster. 

E.  B.  Trezevant,  Lieutenant-colonel.     J.  N.  Rickman,  Commissary. 
William  E.  Demoss,  Major.  Dr.  Julius  Johnston,  Surgeon. 
E.  A.  Spottswood,  Lieut,  and  Adj't. 

COMPANY  A. 

W.  J.  Hall,  Captain.  J.  W.  Towushend,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  Pace,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

W.  H.  Lewis,  Captain.  J.  M.  Randall,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Fisher,  First  Lieutenant.         Thomas  Mitchell,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

W.  H.  Whitehall,  Captain.  John  Homer,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  D.  Craig,  First  Lieutenant.  Thomas  F.  Lewis,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

W.  J.  Robinson,  Captain.  W.  N.  Phipps,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  P.  Edds,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  A.  Wray,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

John  Minor,  Captain,                               J.  B.  Williams,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Andrew  Nesbitt,  First  Lieutenant.        Nesbitt,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

W.  W.  Hobbs,  Captain.  .      J.  T.  Hobbs,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  M.  Box,  First  Lieutenant.  C.  S.  Summers,  Third  Lieutenant. 


462 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 


COMPANY  G. 

T.  8.  Easley,  Captain.  J.  M.  Hall,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  A.  McCauley,  First  Lieutenant.         AV.  J.  Frazier,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

B.  G.  Rickman,  Captain.  E.  H.  Shepherd,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Coode,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  D.  Land,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

Thomas  Fletcher,  Captain.                       B.  E.  .Summers,  Second  Lieutenant. 
Clinton  Aden,  First  lieutenant.  Dodson,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

Thomas  M.  Hutchinson,  Captain.  W.  ().  Chapman,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  Utley,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  O.  Pinick,  Third  Lieutenant. 

ELEVENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

James  H.  Edmondson,  Colonel.  Dr.  J.  D.  Core,  Surgeon. 

D.  W.  Holman,  Lieutenant-colonel.      Dr.  W.  H.  Anderson,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
J.  T.  Martin,  Major.  O.  G.  Gurley,  Quartermaster. 

W.  R.  Garrett,  Lieut,  and  Adj't.  J.  D.  Allen,  Commissary. 

COMPANY  A. 

Charles  McDonald,  Captain. 

(Afterward  McDonald's  Battalion.) 

COMPANY  B. 
Johnson  Nevils,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

T.  C.  H.  Miller,  Captain.  E.  G.  Hamilton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Braden,  First  Lieutenant.  E.  F.  Baney,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

John  Lytle,  Captain.  N.  P.  Marble,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  L.  Carney,  First  Lieutenant.         I.  H.  Butler,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

A.  R.  Gordon,  Captain.  Robert  Gordon,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  Edmonson,  First  Lieutenant.        George  Rotherock,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

P.  T.  Allen,  Captain. 

(McDonald's  Battalion.) 

COMPANY  G. 

Thomas  Banks,  First  Lieutenant.  A.'  S.  Chapman,  Third  Lieutenant. 

DavidS.  Chancy,  Second  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  463 

COMPANY  H. 

Chatham  Coffee,  Captain.  William  Durley,  Third  Lieutenant. 

Robert  Bruce,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

"T.  F.  Perkins,  Captain.  Malachi  Kirby,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  C.  Bostiek,  First  Lieutenant.         S.  Rozelle,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

James  Rivers,  Captain.  Robert  McNairy,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  H.  Baugh,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  L. 
John  M.  Rust,  Captain.  James  Ward,  Second  Lieutenant. 

TWELFTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

J.  U.  Green,  Colonel.  Dr.  E.  H.  Sholl,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

G.  W.  Bennett,  Major.  S.  F.  Cocke,  Quartermaster. 

R.  B.  Bone,  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant.    Rev.  A.  G.  Burrow,  Chaplain. 
Dr.  A.  Beatty,  Surgeon. 

COMPANY  A. 

Edward  Daley,  Captain.  R.  H.  Strickland,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Crite,  First  Lieutenant.  H.  L.  Massey,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

W.  T.  Carmack,  Captain.  F.  E.  Brown,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  D.  Wilder,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  E.  Yancy,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

J.  L.  Payne,  Captain.  R.  C.  Simouton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Bell,  First  Lieutenant.  C.  F.  Sullivan,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

J.  G.  McCauley,  Captain.  Wm.  M.  Parker,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  Appleberry,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

C.  S.  McStusack,  Captain.  J.  8.  Stewart,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  S.  Granberry,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

William  Bell,  Captain.  James  Brooks,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  Matthews,  First  Lieutenant.          Hiram  Prewitt,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

John  Massey,  Captain.  Ambrose  House,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  W.  Freeman,  First  Lieutenant.        0.  H.  Wade,  Third  Lieutenant. 


464  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  H. 

W.  M.  Craddock,  Captain.  W.  J.  Overall,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  C.  Haines,  First  Lieutenant.  L.  L.  Cherry,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

J.  B.  Scarborough,  Captain.  William  Stewart,  Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant.  Wm.  McKirksill,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

J.  R.  McSpadden,  Captain.  J.  T.  Briggs,  Second  Lieutenant. 

E.  H.  Cobbs,  First  Lieutenant.  R.  A.  Williford,  Third  Lieutenant. 

FOUR.TEENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

J.  J.  Neely,  Colonel.  H.  M.  Pirtle,  Quartermaster. 

R.  R.  White,  Lieutenant-colonel.  Dr.  T.  H.  Turner,  Surgeon. 

Gwynn  Thurmond,  Major.  Dr.  R.  P.  Watson,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

E.  S.  Hammond,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

8.  J.  Cox,  Captain.  J.  B.  Harris,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  P.  Harbison,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

J.  H.  DeBerry,  Captain.  G.  Hicks,  Second  Lieutenant. 

N.  A.  Senter,  First  Lieutenant.  John  B.  Holt,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

Z.  Voss,  Captain.  W.  H.  Swinck,  Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  J.  Strayhorne,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

L.  A.  Thomas,  Captain.  James  Drake,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  W.  Ricks,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

E.  M.  Jacobs,  Captain.  W.  G.  Pirtle,  Second  Lieutenant 

A.  R.  Emmerson,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

W.  J.  Hall,  Captain.  M.  G.  Hall,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  Moore,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

A.  C.  Reid,  Captain.  J.  Robertson,  Second  Lieutenant. 
W.  F.  Dillard,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  Reid,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 
James  Gwynn,  Captain.  D.  L.  Hill,  Second  Lieutenant. 

B.  F.  Tatum,  First  Lieutenant.  H.  J.  Brewster,  Third  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  465 

COMPANY  I. 

J.  S.  Elliott,  Captain.  John  Langley,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  Laird,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

C.  C.  Conner,  Captain.  W.  J.  Campbell,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  W.  Fleming,  First  Lieutenant. 

FIFTEENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

F.  M.  Stewart,  Colonel.  John  Sheffington,  Quartermaster. 

T.  H.  Logwood,  Lieutenant-colonel.       Dr.  A.  B.  Tapscott,  Surgeon. 
Solomon  G.  Street,  Major.  Dr.  A.  Bruce,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

J.  L.  Barksdale,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

P.  W.  Moore,  Captain.  R.  S.  Van  Dyke,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  R.  Griffith,  First  Lieutenant.  R.  T.  Gardner,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

J.  L.  Garrison,  Captain.  W.  B.  Nolley,  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  F.  Garris-on,  First  Lieutenant.      W.  D.  Brown,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

H.  T.  Hanks,  Captain.  J.  Ray,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  B.  Henry,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 
T.  Nutt,  Captain.  L  C.  Street,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 
E.  L.  Hussey,  Captain.  G.  W.  Yapp,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F; 

T.  C.  Buckhannon,  Captain.  F.  G.  Ferguson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Thurman,  First  Lieutenant.          E.  S.  Thitrman,  Third  Lieutenant. 

,      COMPANY  G. 

R.  B.  Sanders,  Captain.  P.  H.  Sutton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  McCaleb,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 
J.  M.  Witherspoon,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

P.  M.  Williams,  Captain.  R.  Y.  Anderson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  W.  Allen,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  L.  Seward,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

J.  A.  Williams,  Captain.  V.  H.  Swift,  Third  Lieutenant. 

R.  Stone,  Second  Lieutenant. 

30 


466  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

MCDONALD'S  BATTALION. 

(Forrest's  Old  Regiment.) 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

D.  C.  Kelley,  Lieutenant-colonel.  Lieut.  E.  A.  Spottswood,  Adjutant. 

P.  T.  Allen,  Major.  G.  A.  Cockran,  Assist.  Quartermaster. 

COMPANY  A. 

T.  F.  Pattison,  Captain.  J.  A.  Powell,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  J.  P.  Doyle,  First  Lieutenant.          James  Southerland,  Third  Lieutenant 

COMPANY  B. 

James  G.  Barbour,  Captain.  R.  L.  Ivey,  Second  Lieutenant. 

C.  D.  Steinkuhl,  First  Lieutenant.         J.  W.  Alexander,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

J.  C.  Blanton,  Captain.     •  Samuel  Powell,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Charles  Balch,  First  Lieutenant.  G.  Glenn,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

W.  H.  Forrest,  Captain.  S.  B.  Soliman,  Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  H.  Magee,  First  Lieutenant.  Joseph  Luxton,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

N.  E.  Wood,  Captain.  B/A.  Powell,  Third  Lieutenant. 

W.  J.  Redd,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

J.  F.  Rodgers,  Captain.  J.  S.  Nichols,  Third  Lieutenant. 

C.  A.  Douglass,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 
W.  J.  Shaw,  Captain.  D.  A.  Autrey,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

J.  L.  Morphis,  Captain.  W.  J.  Morphis,  Third  Lieutenant. 

J.  H.  Jones,  Second  Lieutenant.  • 

COMPANY  I. 

T.  R.  Bearfoot,  Captain.  E.  Wooten,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  M.  Duncan,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

William  Higgs,  Captain.  J.  C.  Savage,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Johnson,  First  Lieutenant.  John  Ramsey,  Third  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  467 

SIXTEENTH  BATTALION  TENNESSEE 
CAVALRY. 

FIELD   AND   STAFF. 

J.  R.  Neal,  Captain.  Lieut.  W.  B.  L.  Reagan,  Adjutant. 

Joseph  Paine,  Major.  H.  W.  McElwie,  Quartermaster. 

COMPANY  A. 

James  Rodgers,  Captain.  G.  A.  Montgomery,  Second  Lieutenant. 

F.  A.  Lenoir,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  C.  Pride,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

R.  F.  Mastin,  Captain.  J.  T.  Vaughn,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  N.  King,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  M.  King,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

W.  P.  Darwin,  Captain.                            — —  Armour,  Second  Lieutenant. 
H.  C.  Collins,  First  Lieutenant.  Thomas,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

F.  M.  Murray,  Captain.  Campbell,  Second  Lieutenant. 

T.  H.  Masten,  First  Lieutenant.  James  Baine,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

Thomas  S.  Rambaugh,  Captain.  William  Williams,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Thomas  Williams,  First  Lieutenant.      AV.  P.  Reed,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

Mike  Stoley,  Captain.  Monyham,  Second  Lieutenant. 

E.  Etson,  First  Lieutenant.  Moses  Anderson,  Third  Lieutenant. 

SIXTEENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

A.  N.  Wilson,  Colonel.  B.  M.  Bray,  Quartermaster. 

Jesse  A.  Forrest,  Lieutenant-colonel.     Dr.  S.  H.  Caldwell,  Surgeon. 
W.  T.  Parhani,  Major.  Dr.  M.  D.  L.  Jordon,  Assist.  Surgeon. 

Lieut.  F.  M.  Bell,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

J.  A.  Russell,  Captain.  John  Coberne,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  A.  McCandless,  First  Lieutenant.    T.  F.  Wilson,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

Ed.  Polk,  Captain.  W.  B.  Malone,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  C.  Shipp,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  R.  Glover,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

J.  J.  Rice,  Captain.  J.  F.  Collins,  Second  Lieutenant. 

I.  J.  Galbreath,  First  Lieutenant.          J.  D.  Walker,  Third  Lieutenant. 


468  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

W.  H.  Bray,  Captain.'  J.  C.  Dodd,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  R.  Arnold,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  M.  Bray,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

W.  H.  Simmons,  Captain.  A.  J.  Baxter,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Reverly,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 
James  Stennette,  Captain.  S.  J.  Crowder,  Second  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

J.  W.  Fussell,  Captain.  T.  R.  Mangrum,  Second  Lieutenant. 

James  Tomlinson,  First  Lieutenant.     T.  A.  Haynes,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

J.  W.  Carroll,  Captain.  S.  C.  Kennedy,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  L.  Cherry,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

J.  C.  Gooch,  Captain.  M.  H.  Goodloe,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  Lassiter,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  B.  Northern,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

R.  E.  Dudley,  Captain.  W.  E.  Scales,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  F.  Looney,  First  Lieutenant.  A.  F.  Brooks,  Third  Lieutenant. 

NINETEENTH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

John  F.  Newson,  Colonel.  A.  B.  Crook,  Quartermaster. 

D.  M.  Wisdom,  Lieutenant-colonel.       Dr.  Lockart,  Surgeon. 
W.  Y.  Baker,  Major.  Rev.  John  Randolph,  Chaplain. 

Lieut.  H.  T.  Johnson,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

W.  N.  Barnhill,  Captain.  J.  C.  O'Neill,  Second  Lieutenant. 

L.  T.  Settle,  First  Lieutenant.  H.  Clyce,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

R.  M.  May,  Captain.  N.  T.  Buckley,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  Hayes,  First  Lieutenant.  J.  O.  Ray,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

William  Wilson,  Captain.  John  Barrett,  Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Lee,  First  Lieutenant.  Thomas  Barrett,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

T.  H.  Taylor,  Captain.  D.  J.  Bowdin,  Second  Lieutenant.     ' 

M.  B.  Ormsby,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  P.  Walker,  Third  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  469 

COMPANY  E. 

J.  B.  Michin,  Captain.  E.  R.  Turner,  Second  Lieutenant. 

R.  M.  Wharton,  First  Lieutenant.         J.  R.  Adams,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

J.  R.  Damron,  Captain.  A.  L.Winningham,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  P.  Meeks,  First  Lieutenant.  W.  R.  Ledbetter,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 

J.  J.  Sharp,  Captain.  A.  Brashear,  Second  Lieutenant. 

M.  T.  Shelby,  First  Lieutenant.  R.  T.  Simmons,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

J.  G.  Sharp,  Captain.  J.  M.  Wardlaw,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  D.  Springer,  First  Lieutemant.  Nathaniel  Busby,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

•S.  C.  McClirkin,  Captain.  J.  M.  Bumpass,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  J.  Betts,  First  Lieutenant.  S.  M.  Ozier,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

W.  D.  Stratton,  Captain.  J.  J.  Lane,  Third  Lieutenant. 

J.  C.  Miller,  First  Lieutenant.  E.  W.  Dunn,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  L. 

Thomas  R.  Dick,  Captain.                        James  Stewart,  Second  Lieutenant. 
William  Hollis,  First  Lieutenant.          Lockman,  Third  Lieutenant. 

TWENTIETH  TENNESSEE  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

R.  M.  Russell,  Colonel.  S.  J.  Ray,  Quartermaster. 

H.  C.  Greer,  Lieutenant-colonel.  Dr.  T.  C.  McNeille,  Surgeon. 

H.  F.  Bowman,  Major.  Dr.  J.  R.  Westbrook,  Assist.  Surgeon. 

Lieut.  A.  G.  Hawkins,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

William  Gay,  Captain.  J.  N.  Gay,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  H.  Blackmore,  First  Lieutenant.       R.  H.  Goodman,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

W.  H.  Hawkins,  Captain.  W.  H.  Courts,  Second  Lieutenant. 

N.  W.  McNeille,  First  Lieutenant.         M.  B.  Dinwiddie,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

J.  T.  Mathias,  Captain.  U.  S.  Halliburton,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  P.  Armstrong,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

J.  A.  Shane,  Captain.  J.  W.  Herrin,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  R.  Dance,  First  Lieutenant.  G.  F.  Nelson,  Third  Lieutenant. 


470  FORREST'S  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  E. 

W.  D.  Italian] ,  Captain.  J.  A.  Caster,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 
J.  C.  Wilson,  Captain.  J.  A.  Crutchfield,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  G. 
J.  R.  Hibbitts,  Captain. 

COMPANY   H. 

J.  R.  Gardner,  Captain.  R.  C.  McLesky,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  C.  Miller,  First  Lieutenant.  George  Cathy,  Third  Lieutenant. 

,  COMPANY  I. 

W.  H.  Lawler,  Captain. 

COMPANY  K. 

M.  H.  Freeman,  Captain.  T.  J.  Burton,  Third  Lieutenant. 

A.  J.  Killebrew,  Second  Lieutenant. 

NIXON'S  CONSOLIDATED  REGIMENT  FOUR- 
TEENTH AND  FIFTEENTH  CAVALRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

G.  H.  Nixon,  Colonel.  Dr.  T.  H.  Turner,  Surgeon. 

T.  H.  Logwood,  Lieuten&nt-colonel.       Dr.  A.  L.  Hamilton,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
J.  M.  Crews,  Major.  R.  H.  Shacklett,  Quartermaster. 

Lieut.  W.  W.  Bayless,  Adjutant. 

COMPANY  A. 

Peter  W.  Moore,  Captain.  AV.  R.  Griffith,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  L.  B.  Barksdale,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  B. 

Z.  Voss,  Captain.  W.  M.  Weatherly,  Second  Lieutenant. 

W.  H.  Wharton,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  C. 

C.  A.  S.  Shaw,  Captain.  H.  D.  Nealson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

H.  J.  Brewster,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  D. 

A.  C.  Reed,  Captain.  W.  H.  Reid,  Second  Lieutenant. 

C.  C.  Cowan,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  E. 

Calvin  Gilbert,  Captain.  B.  G.  Pierson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  T.  Scott,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  F. 

James  H.  George,  Captain.  P.  W.  Halbert,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  F.  Byers,  First  Lieutenant. 


FORREST'S  CAVALRY.  471 

COMPANY  G. 

J.  B.  Voss,  Captain.  J.  M.  Jackson,  Second  Lieutenant. 

A.  C.  Harwell,  First  Lieutenant.  G.  W.  Prior,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  H. 

J.  B.  Van  Houtin,  Captain.  Eugene  Allen,  Second  Lieutenant. 

J.  L.  Herren,  First  Lieutenant.  G.  W.  Heath,  Third  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  I. 

N.  J.  Vaughan,  Captain.  T.  R.  Hallowell,  Second  Lieutenant.  - 

L.  Burnett,  First  Lieutenant. 

COMPANY  K. 

R.  H.  Dudley,  Captain.  J.  L.  Dismukes,  Second  Lieutenant. 

E.  J.  Neille,  First  Lieutenant. 

We  were  unable  to  procure  the  names  of  the  officers  of  the 
remaining  regiments  of  Forrest's  Cavalry. 


472  MISCELLANEOUS. 


CQlSGELLANEOUS. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

PRISON  LIFE. 

During  the  first  two  years  of  the  war  the  prison- 
ers captured  by  the  different  armies  were  generally  ex- 
changed within  a  few  months  after  their  capture. 
This  exchange  was  agreed  upon  and  conducted  by  the 
Federal  and  Confederate  governments,  respectively, 
through  commissioners  appointed  and  instructed  for 
the  purpose.  This  was  fortunate  for  the  prisoners  of 
each  army.  Aside  from  the  humiliation  of  captivity 
and  constant  surveillance,  the  prisoner's  life  is  a  hard 
one.  There  is  a  lack  of  respect  between  captor  and 
captive  that  is  goading  and  disagreeable  beyond  de- 
scription. Every  item  contributing  to  comfort  in  any 
way  appears  to  be  sparingly,  grudgingly  bestowed — at 
least  the  prisoner  so  regards  it.  The  men  of  either 
army  who  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  spend  any  of  their 
time  in  prison  know  something  of  these  things. 

While  an  exchange  could  be  readily  effected,  prison 
life  was  of  short  duration.  In  the  latter  part  of  1863, 
the  Confederates  had  a  large  excess  of  prisoners  over 
the  Federals,  and  were  anxious  to  exchange  them. 
Colonel  Robert  Ould,  the  Confederate  commissioner 
of  exchange,  made  every  effort  to  effect  an  exchange, 


PRISON  LIFE.  473 


but  the  Federal  commissioner  declined  to  negotiate 
with  him.  The  Federal  authorities  seemed  determined 
to  hold  the  Confederates  permanently,  with  the  view 
of  weakening  their  armies.  The  Confederate  authori- 
ties wanted  their  men  for  service  in  the  field,  and  were 
wholly  unprepared  to  take  care  of  so  many  prisoners, 
both  on  account  of  their  poverty  of  supplies  and  the 
-demand  they  had  in  the  field  for  the  services  of  the 
men  necessary  to  guard  them. 

The  Confederates  collected  a  portion  of  their  prison- 
ers at  the  Libby  Prison,  at  Richmond,  while  the  others 
were  confined  principally  at  Andersonville,  Ga.  The 
Federals  established  prisons  at  Camp  Douglas,  near 
Chicago;  Camp  Morton,  near  Indianapolis;  Camp 
Butler,  near  Alton,  111. ;  and  other  prisons  at  Fort  Del- 
aware and  other  points  near  the  Eastern  army.  To 
be  imprisoned  in  either  of  those  places  seemed  to  imply 
an  indefinite  captivity,  for  there  was  a  permanent  dead- 
lock in  the  business  of  exchange. 

The  largest  Confederate  prison  was  at  Andersonville, 
Ga.  At  this  place  several  thousand  Federal  prisoners 
were  confined  in  an  inclosure  of  twenty  acres.  A  tall 
plank  fence  surrounded  the  pris<tn.  Upon  the  walls  was 
a  walk  for  the  sentinel,  and  on  the  inside  a  line  was 
established  about  twenty  feet  from  the  wall  all  around 
the  prison.  If  a  prisoner  passed  this  line  he  was  shot 
on  the  spot,  and  on  this  account  this  line  was  known 
as  the  "dead  line."  A  stream  of  water  ran  through 
the  prison,  from  which  the  prisoners  procured  water 
for  cooking,  drinking,  and  washing  purposes.  There 
were  no  houses  for  the  prisoners,  and  they  were  fed  on 
coarse  food,  and  often  in  scant  quantities.  It  was  far 
from  the  desire  of  the  Confederate  authorities  to  treat 
the  prisoners  in  this  manner.  It  was  all  that  they  -were 


474  MISCELLANEOUS. 

able  to  do.  They  had  neither  lumber  nor  nails  with 
which  to  build  quarters  for  the  prisoners.  They  had 
nothing  but  coarse  food,  and  that  in  scant  quantities, 
with  which  to  feed  them.  In  fact,  they  cared  for  their 
prisoners  in  the  same  way  that  they  cared  for  their 
soldiers.  It  was  hard,  but  it  was  the  best  they  could 
do.  The  Confederacy  was  at  this  time  impoverished 
in  every  respect  to  the  uttermost  limit. 

The  Federal  authorities,  instead  of  exchanging  their 
prisoners,  as  was  urged  by  the  Confederates,  began  to 
complain  of  the  treatment  they  were  receiving  at  An- 
dersonville,  and  decided  to  retaliate  upon  the  Confeder- 
ates who  were  confined  in  Northern  prisons.  A  dis- 
tressing policy  was  inaugurated.  Rations  were  cut 
down  to  the  lowest  estimate  necessary  to  sustain  life. 
Thus,  in  the  midst  of  abundance,  the  poor  Confed- 
erate prisoners  were  forced  to  languish  and  starve  in 
Northern  prisons  for  causes  of  which  they  were  inno- 
cent, and  over  which  they  never  had  been  able  to  exer- 
cise any  control. 

Previous  to  the  adoption  by  the  Federal  govern- 
ment of  retaliatory  measures  upon  Confederate  pris- 
oners, the  discipline  ifi  Camp  Douglas  was  mild  and 
humane.  The  prisoners  were  well  fed  and  supplied 
bountifully  with  every  necessary  comfort.  The  Fed- 
eral authorities  complained  of  Andersonville,  and  they 
adopted  retaliatory  measures. 

A  system  of  the  severest  oppression,  coupled  with 
every  manner  of  indignity,  was  now  inaugurated.  The 
writer  was  in  Camp  Douglas  for  the  greater  portion 
of  twelve  months,  and  while  there  saw  all  the  inner 
working  of  Northern  prison  life.  Hundreds  of  Ten- 
nesseans  were  with  him,  all  of  whom,  if  living,  remem- 
ber the  events  of  which  we  write.  While  we  chron- 


CAMP  DOUGLAS.  475 

icle  these  events,  there  is  no  disposition  in  any  "way  to 
disparage  or  criminate  a  people  or  government  against 
whom  we  were  then  at  war.  We  are  writing  history 
and  dealing  with  unpleasant  facts,  for  or  on  account  of 
wliich  we  feel  no  enmity  toward  any  one.  The  hor 
rors  of  Andersonville  have  been  exaggerated  by  preju- 
diced pens.  That  the  prisoners  suffered  at  Anderson- 
ville, no  one  can  deny.  They  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  an  enemy  that  was  at  the  time  so  impoverished  as 
to  be  unable  either  to  feed  them  or  take  care  of  them, 
and  begged  their  government,  on  this  account,  to  take 
them  in  exchange  for  Confederate  prisoners.  This  the 
Federal  government  declined  to  do,  and  in  this  man- 
ner resolved  to  submit  to  the  situation  and  punish  in- 
nocent Confederate  prisoners  in  retaliation. 

"How  the  Federals  treated  their  prisoners"  is  a  sufj- 
ject  that  has  never  yet  found  its  way  into  print.  We 
speak  of  our  experience  at  Camp  Douglas.  The  other 
Northern  prisons  were  conducted  in  a  similar  manner. 


CAMP  DOUGLAS. 

This  prison  was  an  inclosure  ot  seventeen  acres,  sur- 
rounded by  a  triple  plank  wall  fourteen  feet  high, 
with  sentinel  walk  on  the  top  of  the  wall.  The  prison 
was  about  four  miles  from  the  court-house  at  Chicago, 
and  was  named  in  honor  af  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  near 
whose  residence  it  was  established.  The  prison  con- 
sisted of  barracks  arranged  in  rows,  in  the  manner  of 
streets.  There  were  twenty-one  rows.  Each  row 
had  four  barracks,  arranged  in  regular  order,  with 
cross  streets  at  the  end  of  each  barrack.  The  build- 
ings were  box-houses,  on  posts  four  feet  high,  and 


476  MISCELLANEOUS. 

each  building  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
Some  of  the  buildings  were  used  for  hospitals.  The 
prison  was  a  little  town  of  ten  thousand  inhabitants. 
It  was  supplied  with  water  from  the  hydrants,  and  the 
buildings  were  comfortable.  Brigadier-general  U.  J. 
Sweet  was  commander  of  the  post,  and  the  prison  was 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Welles  Sponable. 
This  prison  had  the  "dead  line,"  just  the  same  as  An- 
dersonville.  If  a  man  passed  it  he  was  shot.  The 
men  were  made  to  retire  at  sundown,  and  were  not 
allowed  to  talk  to  one  another  after  they  laid  down. 
If  the  Federals  heard  any  talking  at  night  in  the  bar- 
racks they  would  shoot  into  the  house  through  the 
crowd.  This  was  often  done,  when  several  men  were 
shot,  not  only  innocently  and  unexpectedly,  but  some- 
times mortally.  The  men  were  not  allowed  to  walk 
the  cross  streets.  The  prisoners  were  subjected  "to  the 
severest  punishment  for  trivial  ofFenses. 

Good  accommodations  were  furnished  the  prisoners 
for  keeping  warm.  The  barracks  were  tight  and  had 
good  stoves  furnished  with  plenty  of  coal.  The  pris- 
oners were  not  allowed  to  sit  or  stand  around  the  stoves 
after  sundown.  They  were  required  to  lie  in  bed  till 
the  bugle  sounded  in  the  morning  for  them  to  get  up. 
The  sleeping  accommodations  were  naked  bunks,  and 
the  prisoners  were  allowed  one  blanket  each. 

The  prisoners  were  allowed  to  go  out  at  night  in 
their  night  clothes,  but  were  not  allowed  to  go  on  a 
cross  street.  In  cold  weather  they  were  allowed  to 
wear  their  shoes,  but  were  not  allowed  any  other  addi- 
tion to  their  night  clothes.  If  any  prisoner  became 
possessed  of  a  change  of  garments  the  excess  was 
taken  away  from  him.  Every  week  the  barracks  were 
policed  by  soldiers  who  in  this  way  would  gather  up 


CAMP  DOUGLAS.  477 

cart  loads  of  clothing  which  had  been  taken  from  the 
prisoners  in  this  manner,  and  take  them  out  of  the 
prison  encampment. 

Each  barrack  had  a  kitchen  supplied  with  a  kettle 
for  boiling  beef  and  vegetables.  This  was  the  only 
cooking  utensil.  A  detail  was  made  to  boil  the  beef 
and  issue  it  out  to  the  men.  The  prisoner's  ration  was 
to  each  man  one  half  a  loaf  of  baker's  bread  daily, 
together  with  about  four  ounces  of  meat  arid  a  gjll  of 
beans  or  potatoes.  The  prisoners  were  not  allowed 
any  vessels  of  any  kind.  They  made  little  wooden 
dishes  and  spoons  in  which  they  received  their  scanty 
allowance.  There  was  a  sutler's  store  in  the  prison 
that  sold  a  few  things  at  exorbitant  prices,  and  for  a  * 
long  time  this  sutler's  establishment  was  not  allowed 
to  sell  any  kind  of  provisions  in  any  shape  to  the  pris- 
oners. The  result  of  this  treatment  was  that  many 
prisoners  died  of  starvation.  If  a  prisoner  took  sick 
he  was  removed  to  the  hospital,  where  better  accom- 
modations were  extended  to  him. 

During  this  period  of  starvation  at  Camp  Douglas, 
the  prison  was  visited  one  day  by  some  distinguished 
people  from  England.  The  prison  officers  were  show- 
ing them  around  in  great  pomp.  When  they  came  to 
the  barracks  of  Morgan's  men,  the  boys  commenced 
crying  out,  "Bread!  bread!  bread!"  The  British  vis- 
itors looked  confused  and  the  prison  officers  were 
greatly  exasperated.  As  a  punishment,  they  ordered 
that  no  bread  be  issued  to  these  men  for  the  next 
twenty-four  hours,  and  gave  orders  to  all  the  men  of 
the  other  barracks  not  to  trade  or  traffic  bread  to 
those  men  under  the  severest  penalties.  The  men 
became  desperate.  A  dog  came  into  the  camp  with 
some  visitors  one  day,  and  was  decoyed  away  from 


478  MISCELLANEOUS. 

its  owner.  It  was  reported  that  this  dog  was  slaugh- 
tered and  eaten  by  Morgan's  men.  The  prison  au- 
thorities investigated  the  matter,  but  without  any 
satisfactory  results.  The  matter  passed  off  quietly.  It 
was  evident  the  dog  had  been  appropriated.  In  this 
way  the  men  suffered  in  Northern  prisons  for  the  last 
year  and  a  half  of  the  war. 

When  the  news  came  of  the  assassination  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  the  prisoner  who  expressed  himself  about 
it  in  any  way  was  jerked  up  and  severely  punished. 
Some  people  wanted  to  kill  the  prisoners  and  the  whole 
Southern  people  when  the  calamity  was  made  known. 
The  prison  was  threatened  with  a  mob,  but  excitement 
soon  abated.  The  war  soon  closed.  The  prisoners 
were  discharged  and  sent  home.  The  horrors  and  cru- 
elties of  Andersonville  have  been  at  least  balanced,  if 
not  eclipsed,  by  the  cruelties  of  Northern  prisons,  of 
which  little  has  been  said  or  written  since  the  close  of 
the  war. 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  prison  life  possesses  any 
charms  or  desirable  associations.  In  civilized  wars  it 
is  destitute  of  many  of  the  horrors  usual  among  more 
barbarous  people.  Captivity  is  deplorable,  because  it 
is  at  variance  with  man's  highest  nature  and  noblest 
impulses. 

During  the  prison  life  at  Camp  Douglas,  the  peo- 
ple of  Chicago  manifested  toward  the  prisoners 
much  sympathy  and  assistance,  not  as  a  political 
measure  so  much  as  a  matter  of  humanity.  As  the 
war  progressed,  the  Federal  authorities  forbade  such 
expressions  of  sympathy,  but  the  noble  ladies  of  Chi- 
cago continued  in  the  good  work,  prominent  among 
whom  was  Mrs.  Mary  Blackburn  Morris.  This  lady 
was  possessed  of  great  wealth,  and  in  its  bestowal  to 


MRS.  MORRIS.  479 

the  relief  of  the  suffering  Confederate  prisoners,  she 
•endeared  herself  to  the  prisoners  and  to  the  Southern 
people.  Mrs.  Morris  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  October 
18,  1884.  In  honor  of  her  memory,  the  following 
meeting  was  held  in  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  on  Friday,  Oc- 
tober 24,  1884,  an  account  of  which  was  printed  in  the 
Clarksville  papers  of  October  28: 

MRS.  MARY  BLACKBURN  MORRIS. 

In  pursuance  of  the  following  call,  the  Confederate 
soldiers  and  many  of  the  citizens  of  Clarksville  assem- 
bled at  the  court-house  in  Clarksville  on  Friday,  Octo- 
ber 24,  1884,  at  n  o'clock,  A.M.: 

Our  comrades  of  the  Tenth,  Forty-second,  Forty-ninth,  and 
Fiftieth  Tennessee  Regiments  remember  the  motherly  kindness 
of  this  good  woman,  who  ministered  to  them  when  prisoners  of 
war  at  Chicago,  111.,  in  1862,  and  to  show  their  appreciation  of 
her  noble  action,  and  grateful  remembrance  of  the  same,  a  meet- 
ing of  Confederate  soldiers  is  called  at  the  circuit  court  room,  at 
the  court-house  in  Clarksville,  on  Friday,  at  n  o'clock  A.M.,  Oc- 
tober 24,  1884.  All  citizens — ladies  especially — are  invited  to 
attend. 

Lewis  R.  Clark,  Tenth  Tennessee. 

R.  E.  McCulloch,  J.  J.  Crusman,  T.  D.  Johnson,  D.  F.  Wright, 
Fourteenth  Tennessee. 

W.  A.  Qiiarles,  T.  A.  Turner,  E.  M.  Nolan,  Forty -second  Ten- 
nessee. 

J.  E.  Bailey,  T.  M.  Atkins,  R.  Y.  Johnson,  W.  F.  Young, 
Thomas  H.  Smith,  Polk  G.Johnson,  Forty-ninth  Tennessee. 

Charles  W.  Tyler,  J.  L.  W.  Power,  John  D.  Moore,  Fiftieth 
Tennessee. 

William  R.  Bringhurst,  Austin  Peay,  C.  D.  Bell,  Woodward's 
•Cavalry. 

John  Minor,  Tenth  Tennessee  Cavalry. 

Henry  Merritt,  H.  H.  Lurton,  Dortch's  Cavalry. 

F.  P.  Gracey,  Gracey's  Battery. 


480  MISCELLANEOUS. 

On  motion  of  ex-United  States  Senator  James  E. 
Bailey,  colonel  of  the  Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  C.  S.  A.r 
Brigadier-general  William  A.  Quarles  was  called  to- 
the  chair.  Upon  taking  the  chair,  General  Quarles 
paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  many  virtues  of  the  noble 
woman  whose  memory  we  had  met  to  commemorate. 

The  chair  appointed  Lieutenant  Polk  G.  Johnson^ 
Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  secretary;  W.  O.  Brandonr 
Clarksville  Tobacco  Leaf;  B.  M.  DeGraffenried,. 
Clarksville  Democrat;  and  R.  H.  Yancy,  Clarksville 
Chronicle,  assistant  secretaries. 

The  meeting  being  organized,  was  opened  with 
prayer  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Lupton,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

On  motion  of  Captain  Thomas  H.  Smith,  of  the 
Forty-ninth  Tennessee,  the  following  committee  on 
resolutions  was  appointed:  Captain  Thomas  H.  Smithr 
Forty-ninth  Tennessee  Infantry,  chairman;  Captain 
Lewis  R.  Clark,  Tenth  Tennessee  Infantry;  private 
J.  M.  Rogers,  Eleventh  Tennessee  Infantry;  Major 
D.  F.  Wright,  surgeon  Fourteenth  Tennessee  Infantry; 
private  T.  A.  Turner,  Forty-second  Tennesse  Infantry; 
Colonel  James  E.  Bailey,  Forty-ninth  Tennessee  In- 
fantry; Lieutenant  Charles  W.  Tyler,  Fiftieth  Tennes- 
see Infantry;  Austin  Peay,  Woodward's  Cavalry;  Ma- 
jor John  Minor,  Tenth  Tennessee  Cavalry;  Lieutenant 
H.  C.  Merritt,  Morgan's  Cavalry;  Captain  F.  P. 
Gracey,  Cobb's  Battery;  T.  J.  Munford,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-fourth  Tennessee  Infantry;  Captain  W.  D. 
Taylor,  Price's  army,  of  Missouri;  Lieutenant  A.  M.. 
Trawick,  Sixteenth  Arkansas  Regiment;  private  T. 
D.  Lucket,  Morgan's  Cavalry;  Captain  J.  W.  Scales, 
Longstreet's  staff. 

The  committee  retired,  and,  upon  their  return,  re- 


MRS.  MORRIS.  481 

ported,   through   their  chairman,  the   following  resolu- 
tions: 

IN  MEMORY  OF  MARY  BLACKBURN  MORRIS. 

In  all  the  epochs  of  civilization  individuals  have 
arisen  equal  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion.  Whether 
it  be  to  lead  the  councils  of  nations  in  the  senate,  the 
soldiers  in  the  field,  or  to  lift  aloft  and  protect  from 
corrupting  influences  the  banner  of  God's  holy  relig- 
ion— whatever  may  be  the  demand  of  the  occasion,  by 
an  influence  acting  either  from  within  the  human  heart 
or  mind  or  without,  from  the  direct  interposition  of 
Providence,  the  individual  comes  along  with  it,  coeval 
and  co-equal  to  the  duty  of  the  hour. 

Not  only  is  this  true  with  reference  to  men,  but 
woman  grows  with  the  demand.  Her  frail  form  be- 
comes energized,  is  braced  as  with  iron  nerves,  and 
her  gentle  spirit  puts  on  the  courage  and  strength  of 
the  lion.  The  demands  for  such  exaltation  of  human 
character  are  not  so  frequent  as  to  render  their  num- 
ber in  the  history  of  our  human  kind  very  great,  but 
here  and  there  along  the  roadway  of  civilization  they 
stand,  like  the  finger-boards  of  time,  at  once  directing 
and  illuminating  the  way.  It  is  some  revolution  in 
affairs  (grand  occasions)  that  give  birth  to  these  men 
and  women.  We  might  cull  from  history  a  list  of  such 
names,  but  prefer  to  let  our  own  country  and  our  own 
womanhood  furnish  illustration,  and  that  too  in  the 
person  of  her  whose  memory  we  have  met  to  honor, 
and  to  do  this  we  will  have  to  recur  to  the  past  and, 
to  us,  some  of  its  familiar  history. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1862,  the  first  of  the  Con- 
federate prisoners  of  war  arrived  at  Camp  Douglas,  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  111,  These  hap- 
31 


482  MISCELLANEOUS. 

pened  to  be  mainly  of  the  Forty-ninth,  Forty-second, 
and  Fiftieth  Tennessee  Infantry  regiments,  all  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  It  happened  they  were  placed  in  the 
barracks  from  which  a  Federal  regiment  had  that  day 
been  sent  to  the  front.  Fortunately  for  our  poor  fel- 
lows, they  had,  out  of  their  abundance,  left  here  and 
there  crumbs  and  crusts  of  bread,  and  these  they  eagerly 
gathered  up  and  greedily  devoured. 

Strangers,  as  they  supposed,  in  a  strange  and  dis- 
tant land,  they  neither  hoped  for  nor  expected  relief 
from  the  gentle  hand  of  friend,  and  still  less  from  that 
of  the  foe;  but  after  many  hundreds  had  come  and 
gazed  upon  them  as  upon  so  many  wild  animals  cap- 
tured from  the  forest  or  the  jungle,  the  matronly  form 
of  a  woman,  who,  their  experienced  eyes  told  them, 
was  of  our  Southland,  came  in  their  midst  with  look 
and  word  and  deed  of  sympathy  and  love. 

The  form  referred  to  was  that  of  her  whom  we  are 
met  here  to-day  to  honor,  whose  name,  already  en- 
graven on  our  hearts,  we  would  give  our  humble  efforts 
to  place  where  it  of  right  belongs — on  the  living  an- 
nals of  the  history  of  the  times  as  one  of  its  great  and 
heroic  workers,  illustrating  and  exemplifying  human 
nature  in  its  highest  and  grandest  type. 

From  the  date  of  the  birth  of  the  Saviour  of  man- 
kind to  this  hour,  no  higher  evidence  of  his  divine  origin 
has  ever  been  vouchsafed  than  this — he  came  as  a  sac- 
rifice for  the  good  of  mankind,  as  an  exemplar  for 
every  Christian  life.  He  draws  nearest  Christ  who  can 
reverently  and  humbly  give  himself  or  herself  a  sacri- 
fice for  the  good  of  others,  and  surely  if  ever  human 
being  did  thus  put  away  the  things  of  this  world  and 
follow  after  her  Master,  she  did. 

At  the  date  given  above,  February  22,  1862,  she  was 


MRS.  MORRIS.  483 

the  possessor  of  a  luxurious  home,  in  the  very  front 
rank  of  all  social  life  in  her  circle,  with  the  wealth  of  a 
millionaire,  her  husband  honored  in  the  past  as  the  sec- 
ond mayor  of  Chicago,  and  the  candidate  on  the  Bell 
and  Everett  ticket  for  governor  of  Illinois,  and  in  the 
front  as  judge  of  their  court.  Hers  was  the  very  acme 
of  human  life,  with  all  the  sources  from  which  its 
pleasures  are  derived  in  full,  present  possession.  All 
she  had  to  do  to  keep  what  she  had  and  even  add  ten- 
fold to  it,  was  to  keep  herself  aloof  from  public  affairs 
and  quietly  float  down  the  tide  of  life;  but  the  spirit  of 
her  divine  Master,  "  working  with  her  own  spirit," 
bid  her  make  her  own  sacrifice  for  the  lives  of  others, 
and  without  a  murmur  or  complaint,  without  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation,  she  gave  it  all — social  position,  luxu- 
rious home,  wealth,  every  thing — to  comfort  and  relieve 
the  captive  in  his  chains,  and  tl^e  cause  and  the  land  as 
much  her  own  as  if  she  carried  the  banner  and  wielded 
the  sword  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

It  was  not  long  after  her  good  offices  had  been  given 
to  the  prisoners,  before  she  and  her  husband  became 
the  objects  of  "Federal  persecution,  till  to  visit  her  hos- 
pitable home  was  made  a  cause  of  arrest.  Soon  that 
home  was  taken  from  her,  and  she,  a  delicate  woman, 
all  unused  to  hardship,  made  the  inmate  of  a  dark,  cold 
prison,  with  nothing  to  feed  upon  save  such  prison  fare 
as  her  own  money  would  purchase.  To  use  the  unvar- 
nished and  literal  truth,  they  took  from  her  all  she  had, 
save  one  dress,  denying  her  the  use  of  her  own  private 
room  to  make  her  toilet  as  they  took  her  off  to  prison, 
and  she  was  compelled  to  make  a  screen  of  the  body 
of  her  faithful  maid  servant  behind  which  to  make  the 
change  from  her  indoor  to  the  one  street  dress  they  al- 
lowed her  to  take  awnv  with  her.  All  the  rest  of  the 


484  MRS.  MORRIS. 

wealth  of  herself  and  husband  they  either  gave  to  the 
bummer,  or  it  became  a  part  of  that  vast  and  mysterious 
amount  of  goods  known  then,  as  now,  as  captured  or 
confiscated  goods. 

Finally,  after  long  and  cruel  torture,  they  sent  her 
with  broken  health,  but  unbroken  spirit,  to  her  brother, 
Dr.  James  Blackburn,  of  Scott  county,  Ky.,  with  or- 
ders to  keep  "  watch  and  ward  "  over  her,  and  expatri- 
ate her  if  she  left  the  limits  of  Dr.  Blackburn's  farm. 
With  the  courage  of  a  man  and  the  devotion  of  a 
woman,  she  gave  her  all  to  the  cause.  Many  of  us  re- 
member the  soothing  words  and  hand  of  this  noble 
woman  in  our  sickness  and  suffering,  and  the  words  of 
encouragement  and  cheer  with  which  she  revived  and 
sustained  our  drooping  spirits;  and  when,  as  was  some- 
times the  case,  disease  and  death  came,  no  mother's 
hand  ever  more  softly  and  gently  placed  the  boy  soldier 
in  his  shroud  and  with  flowers  decked  him  for  the  grave. 

After  the  war  and  the  death  of  her  husband,  which 
occurred,  we  believe,  in  1875  or  :^7^'  s^e  came  back 
to  the  home  of  her  girlhood  and  the  home  of  her 
brother,  Dr.  Luke  Blackburn,  then  governor  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  when  he  retired  from  office  she  followed 
him  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where,  with  his  aid  and  others 
of  like  philanthropic  character,  they  erected  a  sanita- 
rium in  which  to  provide  for  and  treat  the  unfortunate 
victims  of  minds  diseased.  This  was  the  work  most 
congenial  to  her  quiet,  gentle  heart.  With  all  of  her 
losses,  great  as  we  have  seen  they  were,  but  a  few 
hours  before  her  death  she  declared  that  the  only 
regret  she  had  in  dying  was  that  she  could  do  no 
more  for  the  needy  and  the  helpless. 

On  October  18,  1884,  at  the  Sanitarium,  near  Lou- 
isville, Ky.,  with  the  armor  of  her  good  work  still  on 


MRS.  MORRIS.  485 

her,  Mai'y  Blackburn  Morris  died  in  the  full  posses- 
sion of  all  her  mental  faculties,  and  the  bright  jewels 
of  her  noble  and  heroic  life  crowning  her  more  richly 
and  grandly  than  kingly  crown  ever  decked  a  royal 
head.  To  us  who  meet  here  to-day  her  life  was  more 
even  than  that  of  one  of  the  historic  characters  of  her 
time — to  us  she  was  the  kindly,  gentle  ministering 
spirit,  and  though  gray  hairs  have  blossomed  in  the 
heads  of  the  boy  soldiers  she  ministered  to  at  Camp 
Douglas  in  1862,  to  our  hearts  and  in  our  memories  she 
was,  and  is,  and  will  forever  be,  a  second  mother; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  loss  of  such  a  person  is  not  only 
a  source  of  grief  to  those  who  stand  in  the  circle  of 
her  own  family,  and  with  whom  we  sympathize  and  to 
whom  we  respectfully  tender  our  sincere  condolence, 
but  a  public  calamity,  in  which  society  at  large  sustains 
a  great  and  irreparable  loss. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to 
the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  that  the  Clarksville 
papers  and  the  Courier -Journal  be  requested  to  pub- 
lish the  same. 

In  presenting  the  resolutions,  Captain  Smith,  who 
was  the  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  A,  Fourth  Ten- 
nessee Regiment,  at  the  time  it  was  carried  to  Camp 
Douglas,  Chicago,  111.,  as  prisoners  of  war,  gave  a 
history  of  its  arrival  at  Chicago  and  at  Camp  Douglas, 
and  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  deceased,  as  also  to 
the  other  noble  women  of  Chicago  who  visited  the 
prisoners,  nursed  the  sick,  fed  the  hungry,  and  clothed 
the  suffering — mentioning  the  names  of  Mrs.  Philip 
Larmon,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Larmon,  Mrs.  Marshall,  Mrs. 
Belle  Waller,  Miss  Pet  Boone,  Mrs.  Robb,  and  others. 


486  MISCELLANEOUS. 

Appropriate  speeches  were  also  made  by  the  follow- 
ing gentlemen,  who  seconded  the  resolutions. 

Ex-United  States  Senator  James  E.  Bailey,  Colonel 
of  the  Forty-ninth  Tennessee;  Polk  G.Johnson,  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Forty- ninth  Tennessee;  Judge  Charles 
W.  Tyler,  Lieutenant  of  the  Fiftieth  Tennessee;  Lewis 
G.  Munford,  of  the  Clarksville  bar. 

Judge  Horace  H.  Lurton,  of  Morgan's  cavalry, 
moved  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions,  which  were 
unanimously  carried. 

Prayer  was  then  offered  by  Dr.  A.  D.  Sears,   of  the 
Baptist  Church,  whereupon  the  meeting  adjourned. 
WILLIAM  A.  QJJARLES,  Chairman. 

POLK  G.  JOHNSON,  Secretary. 


When  Camp  Douglas  was  first  established,  the  pris- 
oners had  kitchens  supplied  with  stoves  and  cooking 
utensils,  and  were  supplied  with  more  provisions  than 
they  were  able  to  consume.  They  were  also  allowed 
as  much  clothing  as  they  pleased  to  possess.  The 
buildings  had  their  floors  near  the  ground,  and  the 
prisoners  would  "  tunnel  "  out.  To  prevent  this  the 
barracks  were  put  on  posts,  as  before  stated,  and  when 
retaliatory  measures  were  adopted,  the  stoves  were 
taken  away.  It  is  strange  to  what  extent  man's  inge- 
nuity can  be  exerted  under  trying  circumstances.  One 
day  a  young  Kentucky  lad,  who  had  been  clerking  in 
the  sutler's  store,  was  missing.  -Search  proved  in  vain. 
The  lad  was  gone.  It  was  a  regular  custom  to  send 
out  boxes  or  barrels  from  the  store  as  soon  as  emptied. 
This  lad  had  crawled  into  a  sugar  barrel  and  concealed 
himself.  The  barrel  was  rolled  into  a  cart  and  dumped 
out  on  the  yard  of  a  groceryman's  establishment  in  the 


CAMP  DOUGLAS.  487 

city.  The  lad  made  his  escape  in  this  way.  At  an- 
other time  a  prisoner  who  staid  near  the  wall  had  cul- 
tivated very  friendly  relations  with  a  Federal  soldier, 
and  succeeded  in  borrowing  his  overcoat.  At  night 
the  prisoner  put  on  the  overcoat,  and  with  a  frail  lad- 
der ascended  the  wall  to  where  the  sentry  was  walk- 
ing. He  told  the  sentinel  to  keep  quiet,  that  he  knew 
where  there  was  some  whisky  near  hy  (showing  a  can- 
teen), and  if  he  would  keep  the  ladder  till  he  came 
back  that  he  would  divide  the  whisky  with  him.  The 
offer  was  accepted,  and  the  ladder  was  placed  on  the 
outside  of  the  wall.  The  prisoner  descended.  The 
sentinel  waited  in  vain  for  his  return  with  the  whisky. 
The  prisoner  was  heard  from  in  a  few  days.  He  was 
in  Canada.  He  staid  there. 

On  another  occasion  a  prisoner,  after  having  laid  in 
a  supply  of  cheese  and  crackers  sufficient  for  a  few 
days'  journey,  crawled  over  the  "dead  line"  in  the 
darkness,  and  quietly  "  scratched  out,"  and  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape.  The  ground  under  the  wall  be- 
ing of  a  loose,  sandy  nature,  the  prisoner  scooped  out 
a  passway  with  his  hands.  In  the  morning  the  breach 
was  discovered.  The  prisoner  had  left  his  bundle  of 
cheese  and  crackers.  The  Federal  officer  expressed  a 
hope  that  the  prisoner  would  not  be  caught,  and  re- 
gretted that  he  did  not  succeed  in  getting  his  rations 
away  also. 

It  was  not  only  astonishing,  but  often  amusing,  to 
see  with  what  alacrity  and  promptness  a  prisoner  would 
obey  the  stern  and  rigid  mandates  of  prison  discipline. 
Men  become  humiliated  and  dejected  as  this  state  of 
affairs  wears  on  their  sensibilities  beyond  a  certain 
limit.  When  it  passes  this  limit  they  lose  much  of 
their  manhood,  and  gradually  droop  and  die. 


488  CAMP  DOUGLAS. 

As  the  situation  became  more  desperate,  the  prison- 
ers commenced  enlisting  in  the  United  States  armies 
for  frontier  service.  The  war  soon  ended,  and  the 
captive  was  set  at  liberty. 

This  sketch  of  Northern  prison  life  has  been  given 
with  no  intention  of  reflecting  in  any  manner  upon  the 
Federal  authorities  at  the  time  the  events  occurred.  At 
this  period  the  vindictive  feelings  engendered  by  the 
sufferings  and  sacrifices  of  a  four-years  war  were  at 
their  highest  point.  Peace  soon  came  "  with  healing 
on  her  wings."  "  Man's  inhumanity  to  man  "  was  mu- 
tually forgiven,  and  as  time  moved  onward  it  was  com- 
paratively forgotten. 


On  page  325,  Col.  J.  M.  Hulin  should  be  Colonel  J.  M.  Hulm. 

Page  333,  Henderson  should  be  Robertson. 

Page  337,  General  Sugg  should  be  Colonel  Sugg. 

Page  343,  the  last  organization  should  contain  the  following 
officers  :  Of  the  consolidated  regiment,  O.  A.  Bradshaw,  Colo- 
nel (formerly  of  Fourth  Tennessee),  G.  W.  Pease,  Lieutenant- 
colonel  (formerly  of  Fiftieth  Tennessee),  Dr.  R.  G.  Rothroek, 
Surgeon  (formerly  Fiftieth  Tennessee). 


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